Prenatal Coping Patterns Mediate The Effect of Uncertainty and Perceived Social Support on The Psychological Well-Being of High-Risk Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: High risk pregnancy can introduce additional psychological stress on the pregnant women. Also, poor coping skills during pregnancy are associated with negative outcomes. The effects of perceived social support and uncertainty on the psychological well-being of high risk pregnant women can be mediated by their prenatal coping patterns. Aim: This study aimed to assess the mediating effects of prenatal coping patterns of the perceived social support, and uncertainty on the psychological well-being of high-risk pregnant women. Design: A cross sectional, correlational study design was utilized on 162 high-risk pregnant women according to certain inclusion criteria and who were attending outpatient clinic in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. Tools of data collection: The data was collected using an interview questionnaire that included five sections as the following: 1) patient's demographic characteristics and obstetric history 2) The Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale; 3) The Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey; 4) The Prenatal Coping Inventory; 5) and The Psychological General Well-Being Index. Results: data and path analysis revealed that, planning/preparation for motherhood negatively mediated the effect of uncertainty on psychological wellbeing of high-risk pregnant women; planning/preparation for motherhood mediated the effect of perceived social support on psychological wellbeing of them; and perceived social support had direct effect on psychological wellbeing of the studied subject. Regarding the psychological well-being, perceived social support, uncertainty, and prenatal coping pattern of the studied high-risk pregnant women, less than half of them had moderate psychological distress, less than two third of them had high perceived social support, more than two third of them reported low level of uncertainty, the majority of them reported less use of avoidance, less than two third of them reported less use of spiritual coping, whereas more than three quarters of them reported frequent use of planning/preparation for motherhood. Conclusion: The study concluded that prenatal coping patterns (problem focused coping) mediated the effects of uncertainty and perceived social support on the psychological well-being of the studied high-risk pregnant women. Recommendation: Incorporating psychosocial assessment in routine prenatal screening for women experiencing medically complex pregnancies with continuous and routine screening for depression and anxiety