Pregnancy postponement decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with decreased well-being among women

During the COVID-19 pandemic, every aspect of our lives changed, and decisions regarding pregnancy were no exception. Previous studies have shown that regret over the decision to delay childbearing at a young age is associated with lower subsequent well-being among women undergoing fertility treatment.

Based on these findings, the present study focused on the relationship between the decision to postpone pregnancy and women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper is published in the journal BMC Public Health.

This study used data from a nationwide online questionnaire survey conducted in 2020 and 2021, the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey. In total, 768 married women aged 18–50 years who wanted to become pregnant before the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed.

Using loneliness, severe psychological distress, and suicidal ideation as indicators of well-being, the researchers determined the association between pregnancy decisions and indicators of well-being and analyzed the data for each year separately.

The results showed that approximately 20% of the analyzed women who had planned their pregnancy postponed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that such a decision was strongly associated with severe psychological distress, loneliness, and suicidal ideation after the pandemic. These associations were stronger in 2021 than in 2020.

Overall, these findings highlight the need for concern about the decline in women's well-being in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for society as a whole to establish a mental health care system.