Sigridur Sia Jonsdottir1, Marga Thome2, Thora Steingrimsdottir3, Linda Bara Lydsdottir4, Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson5, Halldora Olafsdottir6, Katarina Swahnberg7. 1. Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar/Växjö, Sweden; School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri, Iceland. Electronic address: sia.jonsdottir@lnu.se. 2. School of Health Science, Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 3. Women's Clinic, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland; School of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 4. School of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 5. School of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Division of Mental Health, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland; School of Business, Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland. 6. Division of Mental Health, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. 7. Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar/Växjö, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is inferred that perinatal distress has adverse effects on the prospective mother and the health of the foetus/infant. More knowledge is needed to identify which symptoms of perinatal distress should be assessed during pregnancy and to shed light on the impact of women's satisfaction with their partner relationship on perinatal distress. AIM: The current study aimed to generate knowledge about the association of the partner relationship and social support when women are dealing with perinatal distress expressed by symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. METHODS: A structured interview was conducted with 562 Icelandic women who were screened three times during pregnancy with the Edinburgh Depression Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Of these, 360 had symptoms of distress and 202 belonged to a non-distress group. The women answered the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. The study had a multicentre prospective design allowing for exploration of association with perinatal distress. FINDINGS: Women who were dissatisfied in their partner relationship were four times more likely to experience perinatal distress. Women with perinatal distress scored highest on the DASS Stress Subscale and the second highest scores were found on the Anxiety Subscale. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction in partner relationship is related to perinatal distress and needs to be assessed when health care professionals take care of distressed pregnant women, her partner and her family. Assessment of stress and anxiety should be included in the evaluation of perinatal distress, along with symptoms of depression.
BACKGROUND: It is inferred that perinatal distress has adverse effects on the prospective mother and the health of the foetus/infant. More knowledge is needed to identify which symptoms of perinatal distress should be assessed during pregnancy and to shed light on the impact of women's satisfaction with their partner relationship on perinatal distress. AIM: The current study aimed to generate knowledge about the association of the partner relationship and social support when women are dealing with perinatal distress expressed by symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. METHODS: A structured interview was conducted with 562 Icelandic women who were screened three times during pregnancy with the Edinburgh Depression Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Of these, 360 had symptoms of distress and 202 belonged to a non-distress group. The women answered the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. The study had a multicentre prospective design allowing for exploration of association with perinatal distress. FINDINGS:Women who were dissatisfied in their partner relationship were four times more likely to experience perinatal distress. Women with perinatal distress scored highest on the DASS Stress Subscale and the second highest scores were found on the Anxiety Subscale. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction in partner relationship is related to perinatal distress and needs to be assessed when health care professionals take care of distressed pregnant women, her partner and her family. Assessment of stress and anxiety should be included in the evaluation of perinatal distress, along with symptoms of depression.
Authors: Carmen Giurgescu; Lara Fahmy; Jaime Slaughter-Acey; Alexandra Nowak; Cleopatra Caldwell; Dawn P Misra Journal: AIMS Public Health Date: 2018-03-30