A Longitudinal Study on Trajectories and Predictors of Perinatal Depression Among Mothers with Infertility Experience

Objective: This study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in maternal depression among mothers who conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART). Given their heightened expectations and pregnancy-related anxiety, their depressive patterns may differ from those of mothers who conceived naturally.Methods: Data were obtained from the Korean Early Childhood Education & Care Panel Study, including 462 mothers who conceived through ART. Maternal depression was assessed at three time points ― during late pregnancy (32–37 weeks), one month postpartum, and four months postpartum. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to examine changes over time. Growth mixture modeling (GMM) was used to identify latent trajectory classes, and multinomial logistic regression was performed to examine predictors, including birth order, multiple births, and participation in prenatal/postnatal education.Results: First, maternal depression among mothers who experienced infertility showed significant differences across time points. The initial levels of depression varied significantly between individuals; however, changes over time were not statistically significant, and the linear growth model demonstrated a better fit than the no-change model. Second, GMM analysis identified three latent classes: (1) the clinical level-increasing group, showing a continuous rise in depressive symptoms; (2) the mild low to moderate-increasing group, moving from mild to moderate depression; and (3) the non depressive-stable group, maintaining low levels of depression throughout. Finally, birth order, multiple births, and participation in pregnancy/childbirth education significantly predicted the class membership.Conclusion: Depression in mothers who conceived through ART should be understood from a longitudinal perspective. Therefore, tailored interventions based on distinct depressive trajectories are needed.