Published: 2019-04-17

Experiencing stress and the obtained social support among women with high-risk pregnancies

Joanna Koss , Agata Rudnik , Mariola Bidzan

Preliminary report

Abstract

A prenatal diagnosis of a congenital disorder is a traumatic moment in the life of a family, especially the pregnant woman. This is why a supportive attitude from not only the husband and medical personnel, but also the wider spectrum of social support is so important.
The goal of the undertaken research was to assess the relationship between the course of pregnancy and the subjectively perceived stress and social support. We examined 30 women (15 – the experimental group – women in high-risk pregnancies characterized by an impaired development of the child, the remaining 15 women – the control group of mothers whose children were prematurely born and had a very low birth weight). All of the examined women were hospitalized in the Obstetric Clinic of Gdańsk Medical University.
We used the following research methods: Ustrukturowany Wywiad (Polish for Structured Interview) by M. Bidzan, M. Świątkowska-Freund and K. Preis, Nieland Social Support Questionnaire adapted to Polish language by E. Bielawska-Batorowicz, Perceived Stress Questionnaire by Levenstein adapted to Polish by M. Plopa.
Results: Women diagnosed with a complicated pregnancy where the development of the child was impaired reached higher levels of stress than the mothers whose children were prematurely born. The contentment resulting from the obtained social support, especially from the husband or partner, lowered the levels of negative emotions such as worrying, irritability, feeling overwhelmed, perception of tension and pressure. It also lowered the overall levels of stress and increased the perceived happiness.

Keywords:

stress during pregnancy, high-risk pregnancy, social support

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Citation rules

Koss, J., Rudnik, A., & Bidzan, M. (2019). Experiencing stress and the obtained social support among women with high-risk pregnancies: Preliminary report. Family Forum, 4, 183–201. Retrieved from https://czasopisma.uni.opole.pl/index.php/ff/article/view/854

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