Factors influencing maternal distress among Dutch women with a healthy pregnancy

Fontein-Kuipers, Yvonne; Ausems, Marlein; Budé, Luc; Van Limbeek, Evelien; De Vries, Raymond; Nieuwenhuijze, Marianne

doi:10.1016/J.WOMBI.2015.02.002

Title

Factors influencing maternal distress among Dutch women with a healthy pregnancy

Author

Fontein-Kuipers, Yvonne

Ausems, Marlein

Budé, Luc

Van Limbeek, Evelien

De Vries, Raymond

Nieuwenhuijze, Marianne

Abstract

Background Maternal distress is a public health concern. Assessment of emotional wellbeing is not integrated in Dutch antenatal care. Midwives need to understand the influencing factors in order to identify women who are more vulnerable to experience maternal distress. Objective To examine levels of maternal distress during pregnancy and to determine the relationship between maternal distress and aetiological factors. Methods A cross-sectional study including 458 Dutch-speaking women with uncomplicated pregnancies during all trimesters of pregnancy. Data were collected with questionnaires between 10 September and 6 November 2012. Demographic characteristics and personal details were obtained. Maternal distress was measured with the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ). Behaviour was measured with Coping Operations Preference Enquiry-Easy (COPE-Easy). Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were used. Results Just over 20 percent of the women in our sample (21.8%) had a heightened score on one or more of the EDS, STAI or PRAQ. History of psychological problems (B = 1.071; p = .001), having young children (B = 2.998; p = .001), daily stressors (B = 1.304; p = <.001), avoidant coping (B = 1.047, p = <.001), somatisation (B = .484; p = .004), and negative feelings towards the forthcoming birth (B = .636; p = <.001) showed a significant positive relationship with maternal distress. Self-disclosure (B = −.863; p = .004) and acceptance of the situation (B = −.542; p = .008) showed a significant negative relationship with maternal distress. Conclusion Maternal distress occurs among women with a healthy pregnancy and is significantly influenced by a variety of factors. Midwives need to recognise the factors that make women more vulnerable to develop and experience maternal distress in order to give adequate advice about how to best cope with this condition.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Women and Birth

Publication

2015

ISSN

1871-5192

DOI

10.1016/J.WOMBI.2015.02.002

Volume/pages

28 :3 (2015) , p. 36-43