Stability or Changes in Maternal Mental Health During COVID-19
An LTA was utilized to examine the changes in maternal mental health
profiles following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. First, in the
largest group that was below clinical concern, over half of these
mothers remained in the below clinical concern. This group, consisting
of mothers who had good mental health both before and during the
pandemic had the highest frequency. The second largest group to
transition also did not move into a clinical profile but did transition
into a profile with elevated stress levels during the onset of the
pandemic. Still, over 10% of mothers who had good mental health prior
to the pandemic were identified being in a profile that consisted of
having clinical depression or both clinical depression and anxiety after
the onset of the pandemic. Thus, good mental health under normal
circumstances does not guarantee continued good mental health in the
face of a major stressor such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mothers who were identified as being stressed but approaching
clinical concern, compared to those who were below clinical concern,
experienced a much wider range of transitions to different mental health
profiles. Interestingly, mothers who were already stressed and
approaching clinical concern prior to COVID-19 were equally likely to be
identified as below clinical concern (i.e., improvements across mental
health indicators) or in the highest clinical concern profile after the
onset of the pandemic. More research is needed to understand the
environmental influences that contribute to such different responses to
better provide individualized supports.
The study’s findings emphasize the importance of exploratory approaches
in understanding mental health among mothers. Different contexts, such
as the onset of a pandemic, may reveal different profiles of mental
health, and assumptions based on prior literature or preconceived
notions may not capture the complexity of mental health experiences.
Practitioners should approach investigations of mental health using
exploratory approaches better to understand the diverse profiles of
mental health among mothers. Furthermore, this study found that there
were changes in the profiles of maternal mental health, indicating that
latent transition analyses should be employed to examine how maternal
mental health profiles can change over time, particularly in response to
external events. Practitioners should regularly monitor and assess
mothers’ mental health and be prepared to adapt interventions
accordingly. Flexibility and adaptability in interventions can help
ensure that mothers receive appropriate and effective support based on
their changing mental health needs.