Relationships between demographic variables and family dynamics of childbearing families

The relationships of social support, uncertainty, self-efficacy, and commitment to prenatal psychosocial adaptation

AIMS

To report a study of the relations of prenatal psychosocial adaptation, social support, demographic and obstetric characteristics, uncertainty, information-seeking behaviour, motherhood normalization, self-efficacy, and commitment to pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

Prenatal psychosocial assessment is recommended to identify psychosocial risk factors early to prevent psychiatric morbidities of mothers and children. However, knowledge on psychosocial adaptation and its explanatory variables is inconclusive.

DESIGN

This study was non-experimental, with a cross-sectional, correlational, prospective design.

METHODS

The study investigated Hong Kong Chinese women during late pregnancy. Convenience sampling methods were used, with 550 women recruited from the low-risk clinics of three public hospitals. Data was collected between January-April 2007. A self-reported questionnaire was used, consisting of a number of measurements derived from an integrated framework of the Life Transition Theory and Theory of Uncertainty in Illness. Explanatory variables of psychosocial adaptation were identified using a structural equation modelling programme.

RESULTS

The four explanatory variables of the psychosocial adaptation were social support, uncertainty, self-efficacy, and commitment to pregnancy. In the established model, which had good fit indices, greater psychosocial adaptation was associated with higher social support, higher self-efficacy, higher commitment to pregnancy, and lower uncertainty.

CONCLUSION

The findings give clinicians and midwives guidance in the aspects to focus on when providing psychosocial assessment in routine prenatal screening. Since there are insufficient reliable screening tools to assist that assessment, midwives should receive adequate training, and effective screening instruments have to be identified. The explanatory role of uncertainty found in this study should encourage inquiries into the relationship between uncertainty and psychosocial adaptation in pregnancy.

Differential effect of ill-being and chronic stress on cradling behavior of first and multi-time parents

A preference for cradling infants on the left side has been demonstrated in women, as has a relation of reduced left-cradling and stress/negative affect. This relation has not yet been investigated in male participants. Due to less left-cradling in non-fathers compared to fathers it was suggested that fatherhood might have an influence on cradling behavior. The present study investigated the cradling preference of first- and multi-time parents before and after birth, and its relation to ill-being and stress. Results revealed that cradling behavior of first-time fathers was not different before and after the birth of the infant. Thus, fatherhood does not seem to have an acute influence on cradling behavior. Furthermore, cradling behavior of first- and multi-time parents was differentially influenced by ill-being and stress. These results present new information about the course of cradling preference from pregnancy to postpartum and indicate that the relation of cradling and ill-being/stress is more complex for parents than for non-parents.

Experiences of security associated with pregnancy and childbirth: a study of pregnant women

The aim of this study was to describe the sense of security associated with pregnancy and childbirth and to identify factors associated with it. Security was conceptualized in accordance with Kaufmann as a human need and as a human value. The instrument used was a questionnaire with a 4-point scale. The sample consisted of 481 pregnant Finnish women. The response rate was 69%. Rotated factor analysis was carried out and sum variables were produced. The effects of various background variables were calculated using the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. The elements creating security were social support, knowledge, prenatal health-care experiences, support from the partner, livelihood, positive stories and, in multiparae, positive previous childbearing experiences. The most salient finding concerning factors related to security was that women who had no pregnancy-related problems in the current pregnancy reported social support, prenatal health-care experiences and support from the partner as security-creating elements more often than women with such problems. This was the only factor related to manifestation of security. The findings suggest that all pregnant women should be assisted by professionals to find security-creating elements in their particular situation to promote and strengthen the sense of security, paying special attention to women with pregnancy-related problems.

Security associated with pregnancy and childbirth--experiences of pregnant women

The aim of this study was to describe security associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Security was described as a human need and as human value. Data were collected in semi-structured interviews in two maternity health care clinics. Data interpretation was based on the method of content analysis. A convenience sample of 20 volunteer Finnish women was interviewed during pregnancy. The elements creating security associated with pregnancy and childbirth were maternity health care, social support, sense of control, and attitudes. The feeling of security was manifested in different resources, feelings and behavior. If the feeling of security associated with pregnancy and childbirth was impaired, the participants would resort to their network of social support, contact health care or social welfare services, or try to achieve a sense of security by their own resources. Feeling secure during pregnancy influences the pregnant woman's resources, feelings and behavior. It is important that professionals in maternity health care talk with the client about issues that influence her individually-experienced security associated with pregnancy and childbirth. These include examination of the client's network of social support and informing the client about the health care and social welfare services available.