Dynamic interactions between depressive and somatic symptoms following a positive psychology intervention: Evidence from a cross-lagged panel network analysis
In brief
Positive-psychology program cuts cross-domain symptom links in new mothers
In a trial of 687 postpartum women receiving a positive-psychology intervention versus 735 receiving usual care, the intervention group displayed markedly fewer connections between depressive and somatic symptoms over the first three months after birth. Anxiety linked to gastrointestinal, back, headache and dizziness symptoms, while back pain became a key predictor later on.
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders (Q1)
- Published
- 22 September 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Rui Yu, Jingyu Su, Zina Fan, Miaoling Weng, Xiaoxv Yin, Yanhong Gong
- PMID
- 42772526
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122536
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Neonatology (top studies of the week, 27 September 2026): Ranked by evidence level and journal quartile
Abstract
AIMS: To investigate the dynamic relationships between depressive and somatic symptoms among perinatal women and to explore the potential influence of a positive psychology intervention on symptom network evolution using a cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) approach. METHODS: This exploratory secondary analysis used data from a community-based randomized controlled trial. A total of 687 women received a positive psychology intervention and 735 received usual care, with assessments at baseline (T1), 1 month postpartum (T2), and 3 months postpartum (T3). Depressive-related and somatic symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8), respectively. CLPN models were estimated separately by group. RESULTS: Depression-related symptoms, including anhedonia, reduced enjoyment, self-blame, difficulty coping, sadness, and crying, remained prevalent, while anxiety and panic were also frequently observed as anxiety-related manifestations within the EPDS. Fatigue or low energy was the most frequent somatic symptom. Network patterns differed between groups across T1-T2 and T2-T3. In the control group, anxiety, panic, and difficulty coping showed cross-lagged associations with dizziness during T1-T2, while anxiety and panic and panic and sadness showed bidirectional associations during T2-T3. The intervention group showed fewer network connections and cross-domain associations, with anxiety linked to gastrointestinal discomfort, back pain, headache, and dizziness during T1-T2, and back pain occupying a prominent predictive and bridging position during T2-T3. CONCLUSIONS: Depression-related and somatic symptoms showed distinct temporal network patterns across the perinatal period. These exploratory findings provide a basis for further validation of symptom network patterns and their relevance to perinatal psychological interventions.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.