Social Support and Avoidant Coping: Correlates of Depressed Mood During Pregnancy in Minority Women

Abstract

This study suggests that women who perceive less social support satisfaction utilize more avoidant coping strategies and experience greater depression mood. Thus, although these associations are not indicative of a causal relationship, results raise the possibility that women at-risk for depressed mood during pregnancy can be identified by assessing perceived social support and coping styles. Future prospective studies are needed to test the causal relationships among these variables. Clinical interventions to target these psychosocial factors during pregnancy are discussed.

Knowledge, attitudes and decision-making in Czech women with atypical results of prenatal screening tests for the most common chromosomal and morphological congenital defects in the fetus: Selected questionnaire results

“…Leithner et al 7 , Hamilton et al 8 , Rudnicki et al 34 and Borcherding et al 35 studied coping strategies of patients following an abnormal screening test result. Durand et al 29 pointed at the important supporting role of partners and doctors in the decision making process whether to undergo amniocentesis.…”

Prevalência da depressão gestacional e fatores associados

“…O estresse parece estar relacionado à presença de humor deprimido e ansiedade durante a gravidez 17 . O suporte social recebido antes e durante a gestação, principalmente o oferecido pelo cônjuge, parece ser determinante para o bem-estar mental da gestante, visto que sua ausência tem sido associada à manifestação de sintomas depressivos na gravidez 67,72,78,[83][84][85][86][87] . A percepção do suporte social recebido pelo marido está relacionada, inclusive, à prevalência de depressão após o parto 88 .…”

Impact of childhood abuse and neglect on substance abuse and psychological distress in adulthood

“…Empirical studies found avoidant coping as an associated outcome of negative event (Holahan & Moos, 1987), as well as a predictor of poor psychosocial adjustment over a long period of time including depressive symptoms (Simoni & Ng, 2000), overall psychological distress (Steel, Sanna, Hammond, Whipple, & Cross, 2004), and posttraumatic stress disorder (Street, Gibson, & Holohan, 2005). Further, avoidant coping strategies are typically ineffective for eliciting social support or engaging in problem solving activities (Rudnicki, Graham, Habboushe, & Ross, 2001). Previous studies investigating the mediational role of avoidant coping between childhood trauma and outcomes in adulthood have produced mixed results: Some (Merrill, Thomsen, Sinclair, Gold, & Milner, 2001;Runtz & Schallow, 1997) reported the mediational effects of avoidant coping, whereas others (Steel et al, 2004) found no such evidence.…”