Psychiatric symptoms and couple satisfaction in parents of newborns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic-A comparison of two prospective studies.

The study was small, with 60 parents and 30 couples in each cohort, and no formal sample size calculation was done. Follow-up was incomplete: response rates at 12 months were 70% in the 2015 cohort and 83% in the pandemic cohort, and 28 parents were lost to follow-up. Parents lost to follow-up had slightly more depressive symptoms, perceived stress and lower life satisfaction shortly after delivery than those who completed follow-up. The comparison was between different groups of parents five years apart, not randomised assignment, so it cannot prove that pandemic restrictions caused the anxiety difference. The findings come from Finland, where the pandemic in 2020 was under better control and less severe than in some other countries, so they may not apply elsewhere. The study used self-reported questionnaires, and individuals could understand the questions differently. Couples were analysed as individuals, which may break statistical independence and make some results less robust.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was supported by Finnish foundation and grant funding, including the Finnish Cultural Foundation, North Savo Regional fund.

Do not conclude that pandemic-era parents had worse overall mental health or relationships. Only anxiety was higher than in 2015, while depressive symptoms, perceived stress and life satisfaction were similar, and the study was small, self-reported and observational.