TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Association between maternity harassment and depression during pregnancy amid the COVID-19 state of emergency
JO  - Journal of occupational health
A1  - Kachi, Yuko
A1  - Fujiwara, Takeo
A1  - Eguchi, Hisashi
A1  - Inoue, Akiomi
A1  - Baba, Sachiko
A1  - Ohta, Hiroshi
A1  - Tsutsumi, Akizumi
SP  - e12196
EP  - e12196
VL  - 63
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVES: Maternity harassment, known in English as pregnancy discrimination, remains prevalent in developed countries. However, research examining the mental health effects of maternity harassment is lacking. We aimed to examine the association between maternity harassment and depression during pregnancy in Japan. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional Internet survey was conducted on 359 pregnant employees (including women who were working at the time their pregnancy was confirmed) from May 22 to May 31, 2020, during which time a COVID-19 state of emergency was declared. Maternity harassment was defined as being subjected to any of the 16 adverse treatments prohibited by national guidelines. Depression was defined as a score of ≥9 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Japanese version). Logistic regression analysis was performed. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, 24.8% of the pregnant employees had experienced maternity harassment by supervisors and/or colleagues. After adjusting for demographics, pregnancy status, work status, and fear of COVID-19, pregnant employees who experienced maternity harassment were more likely to have depression than those who did not (odds ratio 2.48, 95% confidential interval 1.34-4.60). This association was not influenced by whether they were teleworking or not as a COVID-19 measure. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: One quarter of pregnant employees experienced maternity harassment and had a higher prevalence of depression than those who did not. Being physically away from the office through teleworking may not reduce the effect of maternal harassment on depression. To protect the mental health and employment of pregnant women, employers should comply with the laws and take measures to prevent maternity harassment.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1341-9145
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12196
ID  - ref1
ER  -