Examining the Distinctions and Features of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Early Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence

Objective: This study aims to examine the variations in anxiety and depression among patients with early postpartum stress urinary incontinence. The findings are expected to serve as critical references for targeted emotional health management and nursing interventions during pregnancy. Methods: A convenience sampling method was employed, selecting 464 pregnant women who gave birth and were followed up at the outpatient department of rehabilitation six weeks postpartum from January to December 2024 at Renji Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. Several assessment tools were utilized in this research including the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Simple Coping Style Questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale, the International Continence on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, and the Athens insomnia scale. Results: The detection rates for depression and anxiety emotions in patients with early postpartum SUI were 52.37% and 46.98%. Furthermore, the rate for combined depression and anxiety was 31.25%. These emotions were categorized into four potential groups: low depression and low anxiety (37.7%), low depression and high anxiety (16.2%), high depression and high anxiety (28.7%), and high depression and low anxiety (17.4%). Factors such as education level, occupational status, Average income, residence, insomnia, social support, severity of urinary incontinence, and coping styles influenced the categorization of patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety and depression among patients with early postpartum stress urinary incontinence is notably high, categorizable into four distinct potential classifications. It is imperative for healthcare professionals to implement targeted nursing interventions, tailored to the specific emotional categories and associated factors of these patients. Such personalized approaches are crucial for mitigating emotional symptoms and augmenting the efficacy of nursing interventions.