An Analysis of Pregnancy Perception of Pregnant Women in Terms of Stress, Demographic and Obstetric Characteristics

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effects of stress, demographic, and obstetric characteristics on pregnancy perception. Method: This cross-sectional study comprised 397 pregnant women admitted to the outpatient clinic. The data were obtained by using an introductory information form, the Self-Perception of Pregnant Women Scale, and the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire. Results: Of the women, 82.9% were in the age range of 18-35 years, 36.8% were primigravida, and 68.3% were in a planned pregnancy. On the Self-Perception of Pregnant Women Scale, the average "maternity" sub-dimension score was found to be 25.82±2.87; the average "body" sub-dimension score was 9.41±3.67, and the average score on the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire was 10.26±5.18. It was determined that a planned pregnancy and family harmony had positive effects on both the maternity and body perception score average. The problems experienced in the current pregnancy had a significantly negative effect. Conclusion: In this study, maternal and body perceptions were found to be adversely affected as the stress level of the pregnant women increased. The stress levels and maternal and body perceptions were negatively affected by unplanned pregnancies, pregnancies that carried a health risk, and by couples that were incompatible.

Evaluation of the association between fear of COVID-19 and pregnancy distress

“…Pregnancy is a natural but complex period in life that requires adaptation to physiological, psychological, and social changes. On the other hand, pregnancy is a time in which the line between health and disease is thinnest 33 . Infectious diseases are significant factors associated with maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity and can be a source of fear for pregnant women 34 .…”

“…Pregnancy is a natural but complex period in life that requires adaptation to physiological, psychological, and social changes. On the other hand, pregnancy is a time in which the line between health and disease is thinnest 33 .…”

The Relationship Between Spousal Support and Pregnancy Stress in High-Risk Pregnant Women

“…Similar to this study, in a study conducted by Demir Alkin and Beydağ (2020), significant differences were found between the perceived stress during pregnancy and the number of pregnancies [22] . Various studies in the literature have also reported that the number of pregnancies and the gestational week affect stress levels [3,23,24] . Experiencing pregnancy for the first time, which is an important process in a woman's life, can lead to stress due to the woman facing an unknown situation.…”

“…The scale yields a minimum score of 27 and a maximum score of 81, with higher scores indicating greater perceived spousal support. The scale consists of four sub-dimensions: emotional support (1,2,3,4,6,9,12,16,21), material aid and information support (7,13,15,17,24,25,27), appreciation support (5,10,14,18,20,22,23,26), and social interest support (9, 11, 18) [16] . In this study, the Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was found to be 0.89.…”