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Phutong P, Thaithae S. Social support, health literacy and anxiety among pregnant women during coronavirus 2019 pandemic in Thailand. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1246996. [PMID: 38179493 PMCID: PMC10764411 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1246996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to have a significant impact. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to its effects, which may increase their anxiety levels. This study aims to investigate anxiety levels in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand and to identify factors predicting such anxiety. Methods The researchers collected data through an online questionnaire from November 2021 to May 2022. The sample included 404 pregnant women. The questionnaire consisted of personal information, health literacy related to COVID-19, social support, and anxiety related to COVID-19. The content validity of the questionnaire were verified by three experts, with content validity indices of 0.87, 0.80, and 0.87 for each domain, respectively. The reliability of the questionnaire were 0.96 for health literacy, 0.95 for social support, and 0.96 for anxiety. Moreover, in-depth telephone interviews were also conducted with pregnant women. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, stepwise multiple regression, and content analysis. Results Group of 404 pregnant women were studied, and the results showed that pregnant women had a high level of health literacy regarding COVID-19 and pregnancy (mean = 96.36, SD = 14.23) and social support level on a high level (mean = 83.99, SD = 11.34). Most of them were concerned about anxiety related to COVID-19 infection and pregnancy on a moderate level (mean = 47.78, SD = 11.49). The factors predicting the anxiety of pregnant women during the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand included health literacy related to COVID-19 (β = 0.468) and social support (β = 0.283), with a prediction rate of 32.80% (R2 = 0.328) with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study revealed the anxiety level of pregnant women during the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, which was moderate. Health literacy about COVID-19 and social support can predict the anxiety level of pregnant women.
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Innab A, Al-Khunaizi A, Al-Otaibi A, Moafa H. Effects of mindfulness-based childbirth education on prenatal anxiety: A quasi-experimental study. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 238:103978. [PMID: 37429250 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy and childbirth represent a sequence of challenging events, and adaptive coping strategies are necessary to maintain emotional wellbeing. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of applying a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for pregnant Saudi women with anxiety in the third trimester. A quasi-experimental, within- and between-subject design was used for this study. Data were collected at two points between February and August 2021 from 88 participants using the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. A large, statistically significant reduction was observed in the mean scores of participants' anxiety post-intervention. Furthermore, the anxiety level in the intervention group was very low post-intervention compared to that in the control group. Level of education and spontaneous or medically necessary abortion significantly influenced participants' anxiety. The MBI sessions helped nulliparous women experience less anxiety during pregnancy. Healthcare providers' awareness about the importance of incorporating mindfulness in childbirth education should be increased. Future research should examine the long-term effects of mindfulness-based techniques on maternal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Innab
- Vice Dean of Student Affairs, Nursing Administration and Education Department, College of Nursing, King Saud University, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Anwar Al-Khunaizi
- Qatif Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 842, Khobar 31952, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Areej Al-Otaibi
- College of Nursing, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 2837, Dahran 34256, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Hamza Moafa
- Community and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Department, College of Nursing, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, P.O. Box 642, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia.
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Mudra S, Göbel A, Möhler E, Stuhrmann LY, Schulte-Markwort M, Arck P, Hecher K, Diemert A. Behavioral Inhibition in the Second Year of Life Is Predicted by Prenatal Maternal Anxiety, Overprotective Parenting and Infant Temperament in Early Infancy. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:844291. [PMID: 35722567 PMCID: PMC9203734 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.844291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Behavioral inhibition, characterized by shyness, fear and avoidance of novel stimuli, has been linked with internalizing personality traits in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, and particularly later social anxiety disorder. Little is known about the relevance of potential prenatal precursors and early predictors for the development of inhibited behavior, such as infant vulnerability and family risk factors like parental anxiety and overprotection. Pregnancy-related anxiety has been associated with both infant temperament and maternal overprotective parenting. Thus, the aim of this study was investigating the predictive relevance of prenatal pregnancy-related anxiety for behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood, by considering the mediating role of maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty. Materials and Methods As part of a longitudinal pregnancy cohort, behavioral inhibition at 24 months postpartum was assessed in N = 170 mother-child pairs. Maternal pregnancy-related anxiety was examined in the third trimester of pregnancy, and maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty at 12 months postpartum. Results Mediation analysis with two parallel mediators showed that the significant direct effect of pregnancy-related anxiety on child behavioral inhibition was fully mediated by infant distress to novelty p < 0.001 and maternal overprotection (p < 0.05). The included variables explained 26% of variance in behavioral inhibition. A subsequent explorative mediation analysis with serial mediators further showed a significant positive association between distress to novelty and maternal overprotective parenting (p < 0.05). Conclusion Results indicate a predictive relevance of both infant and maternal factors for the development of behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood. Mothers who perceived more pregnancy-related anxiety showed more overprotective parenting and had infants with more distress to novelty. Further, mothers being more overprotective reported their child to be more inhibited in toddlerhood. Our findings also indicate the stability of reported infant distress to novelty as one aspect of later behavioral inhibition. Addressing specific forms of parental anxiety from pregnancy on and in interaction with child-related variables seems to be a promising approach for future studies and clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Mudra
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ariane Göbel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eva Möhler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Saarland University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lydia Yao Stuhrmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schulte-Markwort
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Arck
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kurt Hecher
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Diemert
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Personality impacts fear of childbirth and subjective birth experiences: A prospective-longitudinal study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258696. [PMID: 34731209 PMCID: PMC8565718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous research suggests that less emotionally stable, less conscientious, less extraverted, and less agreeable women tend to suffer from higher fear of childbirth and experience their delivery as worse. Moreover, there is evidence that birth characteristics and unexpected incidents during delivery may impact women’s birth experiences. However, it remains unknown whether the role of personality in subjective birth experiences varies between women with different birth characteristics. Methods We used data from the Maternal Anxiety in Relation to Infant Development (MARI) Study, a regional-epidemiological study among pregnant women, who were prospectively followed up in multiple waves across the peripartum period. During pregnancy, personality was assessed with the short version of the Big Five Inventory. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/ Experience Questionnaire was used to measure fear of childbirth (version A) during pregnancy and subjective birth experiences (version B) within the first 10 days after delivery. Results Linear regressions revealed that lower levels of emotional stability, agreeableness, and extraversion predicted higher fear of childbirth during pregnancy. Moreover, personality affected subjective birth experiences especially in women with specific birth characteristics: Lower emotional stability predicted worse subjective birth experiences in women with (vs. without) a preterm delivery, and higher conscientiousness predicted worse subjective birth experiences in women with an emergency cesarean section (vs. spontaneous delivery). Subjective birth experiences were also worse in less emotionally stable and less open women with (general) anesthesia (vs. no anesthesia) during delivery. Finally, higher emotional stability predicted a subjective birth experience that was worse than expected, particularly in multiparous women and women without anesthesia during delivery. Conclusions These findings suggest that less emotionally stable, less conscientious, and less open women tend to experience their delivery as worse particularly in case of unexpected incidents (i.e., preterm delivery, emergency cesarean section, and necessity of anesthetics) and might thus profit from early targeted interventions.
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Stuhrmann LY, Göbel A, Mudra S. Peripartale psychische Belastung und Auswirkungen auf die frühe Elternschaft. PSYCHOTHERAPEUT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00278-021-00540-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Peripartale elterliche Angst und Depressivität zeigten Zusammenhänge mit kindlichen emotionalen und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten. Mögliche Erklärungsansätze umfassen pränatal prägende Einflüsse auf das Ungeborene sowie das postpartale Fortwirken psychischer Belastung auf die Eltern-Kind-Beziehung. Dabei kommt dem elterlichen Vertrauen in die eigenen Fähigkeiten eine mögliche protektive Rolle zu, das wiederum durch die eigene psychische Belastung und das kindliche Verhalten maßgeblich beeinträchtigt sein kann.
Fragestellung
Diese Studie untersucht, wie sich pränatale schwangerschaftsspezifische Ängste auf das Vertrauen in die eigenen Fähigkeiten als Mutter in der frühen Elternschaft auswirken und wodurch dieser Effekt vermittelt wird.
Material und Methoden
Als Teil einer prospektiven Längsschnittstudie beantworteten 116 Mütter im letzten Schwangerschaftsdrittel (T0) und der 3. Woche (T1) postpartal Fragebögen zu schwangerschaftsspezifischen Ängsten, mütterlichem Selbstvertrauen, postpartaler Depressivität und kindlicher Irritabilität.
Ergebnisse
Es zeigte sich, dass der Zusammenhang zwischen pränatalen Ängsten und mangelndem mütterlichen Selbstvertrauen nicht über das Erleben kindlicher Irritabilität, sondern entscheidend über das Erleben postpartaler Depressivität vermittelt wurde. Die mütterliche Parität spielte ebenfalls eine Rolle.
Schlussfolgerung
Pränatale schwangerschaftsspezifische Ängste können postpartaler Depressivität vorausgehen und so indirekt das mütterliche Vertrauen in die eigenen Fähigkeiten beeinträchtigen. Die Wachsamkeit für elterliche psychische Belastung und die Weiterentwicklung von Behandlungsansätzen mit Beginn in der Schwangerschaft sind notwendig und erfordern eine enge interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit zwischen eltern- und kindbezogenen Disziplinen.
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Fu F, Yan P, You S, Mao X, Qiao T, Fu L, Wang Y, Dai Y, Maimaiti P. The pregnancy-related anxiety characteristics in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: why should we care? BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:424. [PMID: 34112107 PMCID: PMC8194142 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03887-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is very commonly-seen in clinical settings, and GDM patients may have higher levels of anxiety. It’s necessary to evaluate the anxiety level and potentially influencing factors in patients with GDM, to provide insights for the management of anxiety of GDM patients. Methods Patients with GDM treated in our hospital from May, 2018 to May, 2020 were included. We evaluated the characteristics of patients and the scores of pregnancy-related anxiety scale for anxiety level, vulnerable personality style questionnaire (VPSQ) for personality, general self-efficacy scale (GSES) for self-efficacy, social support rating scale (SSRS) for social support level. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the potential influencing factors of anxiety in GDM patients. Results A total of 386 GDM patients were included, the incidence of anxiety in patients with GDM was 59.07%. Anxiety was positively correlated with the susceptible personality (r = 0.604, p = 0.023), and it was negatively correlated with self-efficacy and social support (r = -0.586 and -0.598 respectively, all p < 0.05). The education level, monthly income, abnormal pregnancy (miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes) and cesarean section history and first pregnancy were the independent influencing factors for the anxiety in the patients with GDM (all p < 0.05). Conclusions The anxiety of GDM patients is very common, early care and interventions are warranted for those patients with abnormal pregnancy and cesarean section history, first pregnancy, lower education level, and less monthly income.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Fu
- School of Nursing, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 567, Shangde North Road, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ping Yan
- School of Nursing, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 567, Shangde North Road, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Shuping You
- School of Nursing, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 567, Shangde North Road, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xinmin Mao
- School of Nursing, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 567, Shangde North Road, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Tingting Qiao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Li Fu
- Emergency Trauma Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yanni Wang
- School of Nursing, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 567, Shangde North Road, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yali Dai
- School of Nursing, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 567, Shangde North Road, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Palida Maimaiti
- School of Nursing, Xinjiang Medical University, No. 567, Shangde North Road, Urumqi, 830000, Xinjiang, China.
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Shangguan F, Wang R, Quan X, Zhou C, Zhang C, Qian W, Zhou Y, Liu Z, Zhang XY. Association of Stress-Related Factors With Anxiety Among Chinese Pregnant Participants in an Online Crisis Intervention During COVID-19 Epidemic. Front Psychol 2021; 12:633765. [PMID: 33995188 PMCID: PMC8119994 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous systematic review indicated the prevalence of prenatal anxiety as 14–54%. Pregnant women are a high-risk population for COVID-19. However, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and related factors is unknown in Chinese pregnant women during COVID-19 outbreak. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and the related factors in Chinese pregnant women who were attending crisis intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The data of this cross-sectional study were collected in about 2 months (February 28 to April 26, 2020). Data analysis was performed from April to May 2020. Participants completed a set of questionnaires via the Wechat Mini-program before starting the online self-help crisis intervention for COVID-19 epidemic. A total of 2,120 Chinese pregnant women who were attending a self-help crisis intervention participated in this study. A survey was developed to address possible stress-related factors in pregnant women during the COVID-19 outbreak, including demographic, socioeconomic, and pregnancy-related factors, as well as COVID-19 related factors. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and the 10-item perceived stress scale were, respectively, employed to measure anxiety and stress-related factors. Results: A total of 21.7% (459) of pregnant women reported at least mild anxiety (≥5 on the GAD-7 scale), and only 82 women reported moderate to severe anxiety (≥10 on the GAD-7 scale). Factors associated with at least mild anxiety included living in Hubei province (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.32–2.13), nobody providing everyday life support (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.18–2.77), pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.32–2.09), and higher perceived stress (OR = 6.87, 95% CI = 5.42–9.02). Having relatives or neighbors with a diagnosis of COVID-19 was not associated with anxiety (p > 0.05). Conclusions and Relevance: Our findings indicate that evaluation and intervention for maternal and infant health are necessary in pregnant women with anxiety during COVID-19 epidemic, especially those with higher perceived stress, less everyday life support, or vaginal bleeding. Interactions among these related medical, social and psychological factors need to be investigated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruoxi Wang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Quan
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Bejing, China
| | - Chenhao Zhou
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Bejing, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Bejing, China
| | - Wei Qian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing, China
| | | | - Zhengkui Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing, China
| | - Xiang Yang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bejing, China
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Esfeh BK, Kazemi A, Shamsaie A. Designing architecture of soothing labor-delivery-recovery-postpartum unit: a study protocol. Reprod Health 2020; 17:196. [PMID: 33302950 PMCID: PMC7731737 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-020-01055-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The physical environment profoundly affects women's well-being during childbirth in family-centered unit. A LDRP, which is an acronym for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum that describes a maternity unit designed for family-centered care. This study aimed to design soothing LDRP healing architecture based on recognizing the emotional elements of Iranian women. Methods This study will be conducted in four consecutive phases; including review of literature to provide documentation based on architectural knowledge and the effects of each architectural component on the parturient psychological conditions, qualitative study to extract women's needs and suggestions for physiological childbirth, architectural designing of the soothing LDRP based on the results of the first and second phases and qualitative study for evaluation of the designed program. Discussion Designing soothing LDRP architecture based on safe child birth unit standards and favorable psychological environment will provide a positive childbirth experience for Iranian women and their family. But, the preferences and demands of families will be based on Iranian socio-cultural context, therefore the using of this design will be limited in other societies with different cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashraf Kazemi
- Reproductive Health Department, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezarjerib AV, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Aida Shamsaie
- Scene Design Department, School of Cinema and Theater, University of Art, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Bazrafshan S, Kheirkhah M, Inanlou M, Rasouli M. Controlling the anxiety in Iranian pregnant women at risk of preterm labor by undergoing the counseling group intervention. J Family Med Prim Care 2020; 9:4016-4025. [PMID: 33110804 PMCID: PMC7586580 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1227_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The effect of a new, structured group training program on the anxiety reduction in Iranian pregnant women at risk of preterm labor (PTL) was assessed. Design A randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting The prenatal care center in the Gynecology Clinic of University Hospital. Population 72 Iranian pregnant women at risk of PTL with a gestational age of 24-28 weeks. Methods Several trained research nurses presented group educational counseling sessions for 6 weeks based on the integration of psychological instructions and interactive lectures for the intervened group (n = 36). Pregnant women in the control group (n = 36) only received routine pregnancy care. Main Outcome Measures The completion of pregnancy-related anxiety questionnaire (PRAQ) for Iranian pregnant women at risk of PTL in the intervention (before and after 6-week counseling, and 1-month post-counseling) and control (before, and on the 6th and 10th week after the study) groups. Results There was a significant difference in the mean anxiety score between the intervention (3.45 ± 0.75) and control (3.01 ± 0.34) groups before the group educational counseling sessions. After this intervention, a significant reduction in the mean anxiety scores of intervened pregnant women (2.48 ± 0.32) compared to the control (2.68 ± 0.81) was found. This decrease in mean anxiety score after the 1-month post-counseling was more pronounced than the 6th week after the study onset (P < 0.001). Low anxiety scores in the intervention group over time were also maintained. Conclusions Implementing the group educational counseling sessions is recommended as a complementary, effective, and noninvasive intervention to efficiently control the anxiety in pregnant women at risk of PTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Bazrafshan
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Kheirkhah
- Nursing Care Research Center, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnoosh Inanlou
- Nursing Care Research Center, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Rasouli
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Göbel A, Arck P, Hecher K, Schulte-Markwort M, Diemert A, Mudra S. Manifestation and Associated Factors of Pregnancy-Related Worries in Expectant Fathers. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:575845. [PMID: 33362598 PMCID: PMC7759496 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.575845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: During the last decades, fathers have increasingly participated in prenatal care, birth preparation classes, and childbirth. However, comparably little is known about the prenatal emotional well-being of fathers, particularly content and extent of broader paternal concerns that may arise during pregnancy beyond those focusing on childbirth. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate the manifestation of paternal pregnancy-related worries in a population-based sample and to identify relevant associated factors. Materials and Methods: As part of a longitudinal pregnancy cohort at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, N = 129 expectant fathers were assessed once during pregnancy. Pregnancy-related worries centering around medical procedures, childbirth, health of the baby, as well as socioeconomic aspects were assessed with the Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS). Additionally, paternal socioeconomic background and maternal obstetrical history, symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression, and level of hostility were investigated, as well as perceived social support. The cross-sectional data were analyzed based on multiple regression analyses. Results: The level of reported worries was overall low. Some fathers reported major worries for individual aspects like the health of a significant other (10.9%) and the baby (10.1%), as well as the current financial (6.2%) and employment situation (8.5%). Pregnancy-related worries were negatively associated with household income and positively associated with anxious and depressive symptoms and low perceived social support. Associations varied for specific pregnancy-related worries. Limitations: Due to the cross-sectional data examined in this study, a causal interpretation of the results is not possible. The sample was rather homogeneous regarding its socioeconomic background. More research needs to be done in larger, more heterogeneous samples. Conclusion: Though overall worries were rather low in this sample, specific major worries could be identified. Hence, addressing those fathers reporting major worries regarding specific aspects already in prenatal care might support their psychosocial adjustment. Fathers with little income, those with elevated levels of general anxious and depressive symptoms, and those with less social support reported higher pregnancy-related worries. Our results indicate the relevance of concerns beyond health- and birth-related aspects that could be relevant for fathers. Measurements developed specifically for expectant fathers are needed to properly capture their perspective already during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Göbel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Arck
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kurt Hecher
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schulte-Markwort
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Diemert
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Mudra
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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