How Does Spousal Support Affect Women’s Quality of Life in the Postpartum Period in Turkish Culture?

Abstract

Bireyler çevrelerinde güvenebilecekleri, kendileriyle ilgilenen, değer veren ve onları seven kişilerin varlığını hissettiklerinde bir sosyal destek sistemi içinde bulundukları kabul edilir. Aile üyeleri yaşam boyu birey için en önemli kişisel destek kaynaklarıdır. Aile içerisindeki ilişkiler daha da özelleştirildiğinde bir başka deyişle sadece evlilik ilişkisi incelendiğinde eşler çoğunlukla destek sağlayan kişiler olarak diğer sosyal destek kaynaklarına oranla ayrı bir önem kazanmaktadır. Eşlerin birbirlerinden algıladıkları destek düzeyini belirlemek amacıyla yapılan bu çalışmada çocuk sayısı, evlilik süresi, evlenme şekli, cinsiyet, gelir durumu ile algılanan destek arasında önemli ilişki olduğu bulunmuştur.

Investigating the effect of relationship satisfaction on postpartum women’s health-related quality of life in Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional analysis

“… 37 Higher relationship satisfaction is likely to be related to women’s assessments of better spousal social, economic and emotional support in the postpartum period, factors known to be associated with higher HrQoL overall. 24 26 38–40 Better spousal support has been shown to lead to reductions in stress, anxiety during pregnancy, childbirth and in the postpartum period, offsetting some of the challenges of coping with parenthood and child care. 26 In our study, we defined relationship satisfaction in relation to shared decision making, agreement on key family issues and communication between the couples.…”

“…Couples who frequently discuss, agree and make joint decisions on key family issues are likely to support each other to achieve their desired targets and thus have a higher HrQoL than those who do not. 24 25 Increased spousal support may be responsible for the observed association between better relationship scores with HrQoL. However, women in Burkina Faso typically receive support from their extended family and social network, often in the form of financial and other assistance (such as helping in the care of the newborn) following childbirth.…”

“… 21 22 There are many possible mechanisms through which higher relationship quality may lead to improved HrQoL among postpartum women including existence of emotional connection between spouses which helps to protect against postpartum depression 16 23 ; easier resolution of conflicts and sharing of childcare responsibilities, 12 and social, financial and emotional support from the male partner following childbirth and during the postnatal period. 24 25 There are only a few, generally small, studies that have directly examined the influence of relationship satisfaction on women’s postpartum HrQoL. In these studies, spousal support, 24 25 staying with the partner post partum 26 and women’s marital satisfaction with their spouses, 16–20 are associated with higher HrQoL among postpartum women.…”

“… 24 25 There are only a few, generally small, studies that have directly examined the influence of relationship satisfaction on women’s postpartum HrQoL. In these studies, spousal support, 24 25 staying with the partner post partum 26 and women’s marital satisfaction with their spouses, 16–20 are associated with higher HrQoL among postpartum women.…”

The Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life Instrument (MPQOLI): Development and Psychometric Evaluation in an Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Method Study

“…A former study showed that socio-emotional help and support were among the significant predictors of depression, stress, and QOL among pregnant women (43). Another study reported a significant positive relationship between postpartum QOL and husband's support (44). Similarly, a study found that spousal support and good marital relationship were significant factors contributing to the improvement of postpartum QOL (44).…”