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

## TL;DR

Pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy worsens quality of life and increases depressive symptoms, especially as pregnancy progresses.

## Contribution

This study quantifies the relationship between pelvic girdle pain and mental/physical health in pregnant women.

## Key findings

- Pelvic girdle pain is strongly linked to lower physical and mental quality of life scores.
- Higher pain levels correlate with increased depressive symptoms and longer gestational age.
- 32.9% of pelvic girdle pain variance is explained by quality of life factors and pain intensity.

## Abstract

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

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.

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.

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.