The ımpact of pelvic girdle pain on quality of life and depressive symptoms during pregnancy

Günaydin, Yurdagül; Kir, Esma; Toker, Serpil; Deprem, Medine Kir

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.20250572

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Original Article • Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras. 71 (12) • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.20250572 linkcopy

The ımpact of pelvic girdle pain on quality of life and depressive symptoms during pregnancy

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of pelvic girdle pain on quality of life and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study involved 433 second- and third-trimester pregnant women who volunteered at two public hospitals in Central Anatolia, Turkey, between March 2024 and March 2025, excluding those with high-risk pregnancies. Data were collected using the Demographic Form, Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire, Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory, and Visual Analog Scale.

RESULTS: The mean age of women was 27.81±5.12. The findings revealed significant negative correlations between the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire and SF-36 subscales, including physical function, physical and emotional role limitations, social functioning, general health and pain (p<0.05). Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire was positively correlated with depression, Visual Analog Scale, and gestational weeks (p<0.05). Moreover, 32.9% of the variance in Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire scores is explained by SF-36 subdimensions (physical function, role limitations, energy/vitality, mental health, and pain), number of births, and Visual Analog Scale.

CONCLUSION: Pelvic girdle pain negatively affects physical and mental well-being, increases pain, and reduces quality of life in pregnancy. Its severity rises with gestational age and is linked to depressive symptoms.

KEYWORDS:
Depressive symptoms; Life quality; Pelvic pain; Pregnancy

Features		Mean (SD)
Age		27.81 (5.12)
Size		163.16 (5.36)
Pre-pregnancy weight		65.52 (12.91)
Current weight		74.19 (13.46)
Pregnancy week		28.62 (9.21)
Number of pregnancies		1.83 (1.05)
Number of births		0.79 (0.94)
Number of living children		0.75 (0.90)
Number of miscarriages/abortions		0.27 (0.61)
VAS (0–10 puan)		4.88 (2.24)
Education status		n	%
	Primary education	93	21.5
	High school	169	39.0
	University and above	171	39.5
Job
	Housewife	332	76.7
	Officer	57	13.1
	Private sector	35	8.1
	Other	9	2.1
Family type
	Nuclear family	368	85.0
	Extended family	65	15.0
Pregnancy status
	Single pregnancy	428	98.8
	Twin pregnancy	5	1.2
Income status
	My income is less than my expenses	16	3.7
	My income is equal to my expenses	257	59.3
	My income is more than my expenses	160	37.0
Onset of pregnancy
	Naturally	397	91.7
	With medical help	36	8.3
The state of wanting pregnancy
	We wanted and planned pregnancy	329	76.0
	We were not planning it	104	24.0
Getting support during pregnancy
	No support	53	12.2
	Partner	277	64.0
	Family members	75	17.3
	My wife's family	22	5.1
	Other	6	1.4
Smoking
	Using	67	15.5
	Not using	366	84.5
Alcohol use
	Using	12	2.8
	Not using	421	97.2
Gynecological surgery status
	Yes	50	11.5
	No	383	88.5

Variables	Mean (SD)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
1. PF	19.52 (5.47)	–
2. PRD	5.07 (1.43)	0.412**	–
3. ERD	3.91 (1.15)	0.389**	0.672**	–
4. EV	15.09 (3.68)	-0.029	-0.116*	-0.124**	–
5. MH	18.09 (4.85)	-0.060	-0.144**	-0.132**	0.645**	–
6. SF	6.59 (1.85)	0.213**	0.321**	0.316**	-0.234**	-0.149**	–
7. Pain	7.03 (1.98)	0.221**	0.333**	0.234**	-0.218**	-0.175**	0.515**	–
8. GHP	15.87 (4.31)	0.130**	0.165**	0.203**	-0.279**	-0.200**	0.310**	0.268**	–
9. PGQ	45.75 (20.28)	-0.218**	-0.249**	-0.131**	0.147**	0.048	-0.265**	-0.502**	-0.177**	–
10. Activity	45.25 (21.57)	-0.172**	-0.206**	-0.090	0.125**	0.017	-0.218**	-0.430**	-0.139**	0.981**	–
11. Symptom	47.74 (23.68)	-0.309**	-0.318**	-0.246**	0.173**	0.141**	-0.341**	-0.585**	-0.250**	0.708**	0.558**	–
12. BDI	15.91 (11.39)	-0.030	-0.060	-0.040	0.304**	0.196**	-0.401**	-0.347**	-0.361**	0.217**	0.176**	0.289**	–
13. VAS	4.88 (2.24)	-0.154**	-0.162**	-0.127**	0.081	0.032	-0.219**	-0.481**	-0.236**	0.451**	0.376**	0.562**	0.227**	–
14. Pregnancy week	28.62 (9.21)	-0.246**	-0.131**	-0.191**	-0.030	0.004	0.035	-0.117*	0.065	0.136**	0.096*	0.232**	-0.040	0.121*	–

	β¹ (95%CI)	β²	t	p
Constant	101.115 (49.749/152.482)		3.870	<0.001
PF	-0.336 (-0.665/-0.007)	-0.091	-2.009	0.045
PRD	-1.709 (-3.293/-0.125)	-0.121	-2.121	0.035
ERD	1.963 (0.025/3.901)	0.111	1.991	0.047
EV	0.755 (0.161/1.349)	0.137	2.497	0.013
MH	-0.482 (-0.914/-0.050)	-0.115	-2.192	0.029
SF	0.250 (-0.850/1.350)	0.023	0.447	0.655
Pain	-4.368 (-3.226/-2.228)	-0.323	-6.059	<0.001
GHP	-0.013 (-0.407/0.433)	0.003	0.063	0.950
Age	-0.231 (-0.573/0.112)	-0.058	-1.325	0.186
Pre-pregnancy weight	0.175 (-0.425/0.074)	-0.112	-1.380	0.168
Size	-0.186 (-0.502/0.130)	-0.049	-1.158	0.247
Current pregnancy weight	-0.064 (-0.176/0.305)	-0.043	0.524	0.601
Number of pregnancies	1.749 (-1.999/5.497)	0.091	0.917	0.360
Number of births	-6.454 (-12.401/-0.507)	-0.300	-2.133	0.033
Number of living children	5.243 (-1.124/11.610)	0.232	1.619	0.106
Number of miscarriages/abortions	-1.919 (-5.704/1.867)	-0.058	-0.996	0.320
VAS	2.368 (1.529/3.207)	0.261	5.546	<0.001
BDI	0.079 (-0.089/0.246)	0.044	0.922	0.357

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[TFN1] n: number of participants; %: percentage value. VAS: Visual Analog Scale.