Stressful Life Events, Postpartum Depressive Symptoms, and Partner and Social Support Among Pregnant People with Disabilities

INTRODUCTION

As an increasing number of people with disabilities become pregnant and give birth, understanding their vulnerabilities for poor mental health and life stress can help to improve their health and well-being. We examined whether people with disabilities are more likely to experience stressful life events 12 months before childbirth, postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS), and lack of postpartum partner and social support, and compared these associations by race/ethnicity.

METHODS

Using the Massachusetts Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2016-2020 data (n = 6,483), we used univariate and multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the associations of disability with stressful life events, PDS, and postpartum partner and social support, and calculated risk ratio (RR), adjusted RR, and 95% confidence interval (CI). We also conducted stratified analyses by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

The prevalence of disability was 10.7% overall, and 8.8% among White non-Hispanic people, 14.3% among Black non-Hispanic people, 15.5% among Hispanic people, and 8.3% among Asian non-Hispanic people. Compared with people without disabilities, those with disabilities were more likely to report emotional stress (RR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.36-1.74), partner-related stress (RR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.23-2.91), financial stress (RR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.44-1.68), traumatic stress (RR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.85-2.79), and PDS (RR, 3.77; 95% CI, 3.13-4.53). People with disabilities were also more likely to lack a partner's emotional support (RR, 2.57; 95% CI, 2.21-2.97), financial support from the newborn's father (RR, 2.89; 95% CI, 2.39-3.51), and social support while feeling tired or frustrated (RR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.68-2.52). These associations remained statistically significant after adjustment for maternal factors and newborn's birth year. Strong associations of disability with stressful life events (including emotional stress and partner-related stress), PDS, lacking partner's emotional support, and social support existed across racial/ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant people with disabilities may benefit from additional screening for stressful life events and depression during pregnancy and postpartum. Multidisciplinary efforts that combine mental health screening and treatment, peer support groups, increased health care provider training about caring for people with disabilities during pregnancy, and better access to care for pregnant people with disabilities are needed to improve their health and support their desire to become parents.

The emotional state and social support of pregnant women attending childbirth classes in the context of physical activity

Childbirth classes combined with elements of psychoprophylaxis and psychoeducation prepare women and their partners for childbirth and influence the level of their perceived stress and mood disorders. Participation in these classes may come as a form of support for pregnant women, or an opportunity to build self-efficacy and commence regular physical activity. The aim of this study was assess the emotional state, social support and self-efficacy of pregnant women attending childbirth classes, in the context of physical activity undertaken. The study included 101 pregnant women. The Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used during their first day of attendance at the childbirth classes (initial survey; T1) and after 10 weeks of participation in these classes (final survey; T2). After 10 weeks of childbirth classes, there was a statistically significant change in the BSSS, specifically in the area of Perceived Available Support, GSES, PSS-10, and STAI X-2. There was no significant relationship established between the emotional state and the physical activity undertaken before and during pregnancy or with the social support received.

Course of pregnancy, labor, and women’s satisfaction with life in the early postpartum period

Background: The postpartum period, including hospitalization after a birth, requires the woman in puerperium to adjust to her new social role. The subject of satisfaction with life (SWL) in women in the early postpartum period has been rarely addressed in the literature and requires up-to-date, thorough research. Aim of the study: The present study aimed to evaluate the level of SWL among women after delivery according to selected characteristics concerning the course of pregnancy and labor. Material and methods: The study included 128 females who after delivery were hospitalized at maternity units in Lublin, Poland. The participants were administered the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and a questionnaire to collect data on the course of pregnancy and labor. Results: It was found that 88 (68.75%) women had a high level of life satisfaction after childbirth, 27 (21.09%) had an average level, and 13 (10.16%) had a low level. Among the analyzed variables, a marginally significant increase in SWL was found for women in the early postpartum period that experienced skin-to-skin contact with the newborn immediately after delivery (p=0.054). The strength of the observed effect, as measured by Cohen’s d coefficient, was low (0.37). Conclusion: The current research contributes to the identification of factors occurring during pregnancy and labor that determine postpartum SWL. These results may enable the early elimination of variables that negatively affect postpartum SWL and place a focus on factors with a positive impact. The use of preventive measures designed to improve SWL are likely to aid in reducing the risk of mood disorders in the later postpartum period.

Spouse's social support in the postpartum period, predictors and its relationship with postpartum depression in a sample of Iranian primiparous women

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the predictive factors of receiving spousal support in the postpartum period and its relationship with postpartum depression (PPD).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May 2019 in 250 primiparous women to determine the predictors of spousal social support in the postpartum period. Three scales were used to collect data: The Demographic and Obstetric Checklist, the Postpartum Partner Support Scale, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale.

RESULTS

Multivariate regression showed that the employment status of the spouse and life satisfaction variables were predictive of whether social support was received from a spouse in the postpartum period. In total, the variables examined in this model explained 19% of the variance for a mother receiving spousal social support in the postpartum period. PPD and spousal social support had a moderately inverse and significant correlation (β = -0.39).

CONCLUSION

Life satisfaction and employment of the spouse are important predictive variables for receiving social support of the spouse in the postpartum period. There is also a significant inverse relationship between PPD and spousal social support.

The mediating role of perceived social support between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy can be stressful for women and families, so the life satisfaction of pregnant women may face significant challenges. This study aimed to identify the relationship among anxiety symptoms, perceived social support and life satisfaction, and to further explore whether perceived social support can play a mediating role.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September in Shenyang City, China in 2019. 290 effective questionnaires were collected. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) as well as demographic variables were included in each questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to explore the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction. Then the mediation model was examined by the PROCESS macro for SPSS.

RESULTS

After adjusting control variables, anxiety symptoms were negatively associated with life satisfaction and explained 14.7% of the variance. Higher level of perceived social support was related to higher level of life satisfaction, explaining 21.0% of the variance. Perceived social support partly mediated the relationship between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction for pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived social support played a mediating role between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction among pregnant women. Strategies and measures to improve perceived social support may be expected to buffer the impact of anxiety symptoms on pregnant women's life satisfaction.

Emotional Burden and Perceived Social Support in Male Partners of Women with Cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the correlations between the psychosocial burden on male caregivers and their perception of social support, as well as distress, anxiety, and depression among their partners in the first six months after a cancer diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional, longitudinal and observational study was conducted on a group of 61 couples, with the use of Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), Berlín Social Support Scales (BSSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Distress Thermometer (DT). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica v.13. Results: A strong positive correlation between the ZBI and CBS, as well as between support-seeking and the emotional involvement of male partners, was documented. The negative correlation between the lack of instrumental support and a much greater burden on caregivers, in emotional, social, and family life was documented. The level of distress, anxiety, and depression, as well as family problems reported by female patients, were positively correlated with the male caregiver′s burden. A demographic analysis showed significant relationships between the number of offspring and the negative health indicators of patients and their partners. Implications: The obtained results encourage deeper reflection on the need to improve the availability of instrumental support for male caregivers and support for families with an oncological ill parent in caring for minor children, and to maintain the social activity of the caregiver.