C Toleon1, A-S Deborde2, S Ahmad2, S Vanwalleghem3. 1. Laboratoire Paragraphe EA 349, Université Paris 8, 2, rue de la Liberté, 93200 Saint-Denis, France. Electronic address: camilletoleon@gmail.com. 2. Laboratoire Paragraphe EA 349, Université Paris 8, 2, rue de la Liberté, 93200 Saint-Denis, France. 3. Unité de recherche CLIPSYD (4430), Université Paris Nanterre, équipe Evaclipsy, Université Paris Nanterre, 200, avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Emotional regulation is a key factor that could determine the quality of becoming a parent. Since pregnancy is accompanied by changes in the emotional system, fluctuations in emotional regulation may also occur during this period. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had major psychological repercussions on the general population which could have also affected emotional regulation capacities. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether emotional regulation has characteristics during pregnancy and to evaluate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotional regulation of pregnant women. METHOD: One hundred fifty-one women aged between 19 and 42 years old participated in this study. Their emotional regulation abilities were assessed using the Difficulties Emotion Regulation Scale before and during the pandemic. A two-factor multivariate analysis of covariance, "parental status" (pregnant vs. childless) and "time of data collection" (before vs. during COVID-19), was conducted to compare the emotional regulation abilities of pregnant women with those of childless women before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: (1) Prior to the pandemic, pregnant women exhibited better emotional regulation skills than childless women, characterized by greater acceptance and understanding of their emotions. (2) During the pandemic: (a) pregnant women's emotional regulation scores were comparable to those of women without children. (b) They also had more difficulty than pre-pandemic pregnant women in identifying their emotions. CONCLUSION: The lack of improvement in emotional regulation skills in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic is a specific impact of COVID on this population. This could affect their mental health, as well as the emotional adjustment of the mother towards her baby.
INTRODUCTION: Emotional regulation is a key factor that could determine the quality of becoming a parent. Since pregnancy is accompanied by changes in the emotional system, fluctuations in emotional regulation may also occur during this period. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had major psychological repercussions on the general population which could have also affected emotional regulation capacities. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether emotional regulation has characteristics during pregnancy and to evaluate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotional regulation of pregnant women. METHOD: One hundred fifty-one women aged between 19 and 42 years old participated in this study. Their emotional regulation abilities were assessed using the Difficulties Emotion Regulation Scale before and during the pandemic. A two-factor multivariate analysis of covariance, "parental status" (pregnant vs. childless) and "time of data collection" (before vs. during COVID-19), was conducted to compare the emotional regulation abilities of pregnant women with those of childless women before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: (1) Prior to the pandemic, pregnant women exhibited better emotional regulation skills than childless women, characterized by greater acceptance and understanding of their emotions. (2) During the pandemic: (a) pregnant women's emotional regulation scores were comparable to those of women without children. (b) They also had more difficulty than pre-pandemic pregnant women in identifying their emotions. CONCLUSION: The lack of improvement in emotional regulation skills in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic is a specific impact of COVID on this population. This could affect their mental health, as well as the emotional adjustment of the mother towards her baby.
Authors: Erich Seifritz; Fabrizio Esposito; John G Neuhoff; Andreas Lüthi; Henrietta Mustovic; Gerhard Dammann; Ulrich von Bardeleben; Ernst W Radue; Sossio Cirillo; Gioacchino Tedeschi; Francesco Di Salle Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2003-12-15 Impact factor: 13.382