PSYCHOSOCIAL COPING AND ADJUSTMENT DURING PREGNANCY.
Contributors: University of Iowa.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 165
Subjects: Health Sciences, Mental Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Clinical.
Description: Childbearing can be a joyful experience for many women. However, at the same time, the dramatic physical, psychological, and social changes that accompany pregnancy can be overwhelming. In this investigation, crisis theory predictions for conditions of increased stress, resulting from the changes of pregnancy, were hypothesized. Under increased stress, pregnant women with and without numerous psychosocial coping resources were expected to experience distress. That is, when changes accompanying pregnancy were of significant magnitude, a time-limited state of "crisis" was predicted.

Participants were 120 primiparous and multiparous women recruited from a private obstetrical clinic. Initial measures of sociodemographic characteristics, depression and anxiety (Costello-Comrey Depression and Anxiety scales; Costello & Comrey, 1967), pregnancy stress, and psychosocial coping resources (Personal Resources Questionnaire; Osipow & Spokane, 1983) were completed by participants and mailed to the investigator. Two-month followup measures of depression, anxiety, and pregnancy stress were completed at the obstetrical clinic.

Hierarchical regression of depression and anxiety on sociodemographic factors, stress change, and psychosocial resources indicated that stressful events directly influenced depression and anxiety during pregnancy. Consistent with crisis theory, under high stress, pregnant women experienced high depression and anxiety regardless of psychosocial resources levels. Supplementary analyses indicated that the sample of women experiencing extremely stressful events (events which also were likely to recur or be ongoing during pregnancy) reported high anxiety (tension and difficulties with problem management). More generally, women experiencing high numbers of new types of stress (events which also were likely to be rated as mildly or moderately stressful) reported low levels of depression when numerous psychosocial resources were available; however, when few psychosocial resources were available, high levels of new types of stress were associated with high levels of depression (negative outlook and unhappiness).

Recommendations were made for counseling and educating pregnant women about the negative influence of increased stress and the positive influence of psychosocial resources on psychological adjustment. The importance of further research on psychosocial processes of pregnancy and postpartum adjustment was emphasized.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-06, Section: B, page: 2333.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, 1988.

School code: 0096.