Research Approaches to Explore Postpartum Emotional Distress (PPED) During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK: A Scoping Review

The COVID-19 pandemic affected maternal mental health in the UK, increasing postpartum emotional distress. This scoping review identified forms of postpartum emotional distress (PPED) examined during the pandemic, the methodologies and assessment tools used, analytical approaches, reported limitations, future research directions, and overall findings. This review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review guidelines. A comprehensive, keyword-based search strategy was applied across electronic databases, initially on 28 January 2023, and updated on 20 July 2023, and 3 September 2025. Strict inclusion criteria were used, and data from eligible studies were charted and synthesised. This review of 35 UK studies on postpartum emotional distress (PPED) during COVID-19 found a dominant focus on depression and anxiety, with other PPED forms largely neglected. Quantitative designs overwhelmingly outnumbered qualitative and mixed-method approaches. Common limitations included low sample diversity, reliance on online self-report surveys, cross-sectional designs, convenience sampling, and social-media-based recruitment. This review is the first to map research approaches used to explore postpartum emotional distress (PPED) during COVID-19 in the UK. The limitations and future research directions identified in this review highlight an urgent need for more diverse sampling, longitudinal study designs, qualitative research exploring women’s lived experience narratives of different forms of postpartum emotional distress, greater consideration of biopsychosocial factors, and evidence-based interventions.