Social support and subjective assessment of psychophysical condition, health, and satisfaction with quality of life among women after pregnancy loss

Grażyna Iwanowicz-Palus,Krzysztof Jurek,Mariola Mróz,Agnieszka Bień

doi:10.1186/s12884-021-04093-w

Abstract

BackgroundThe task of modern medicine is not just to heal, but also to improve the patient’s well-being and achieve non-medical goals in the therapy process that enable effective physical, mental and social functioning of the patient. Social support in difficult situations mobilizes an individual’s strength and resources to cope with problems. Research on social support and women’s condition after pregnancy loss reflects a holistic approach to the patient and is important from the perspective of increasing the level of hospital care.ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to assess the impact of social support on the psychophysical condition, health, and satisfaction with quality of life among women after miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was carried out in a group of 500 patients after miscarriage and 110 with ectopic pregnancy, hospitalized in hospitals in Lublin (Poland). The study was conducted with the use of a diagnostic survey, comprising the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS) and an original survey questionnaire (psychophysical condition, satisfaction with health and quality of life on a scale of 1–4, sources of support on a scale of 1–10, with 1 being the poorest rating).ResultsRespondents after miscarriage and those after ectopic pregnancy assigned the highest scores to the degree of perceived available instrumental support (respectively, miscarriage: M = 3.79, EP: M = 3.77). Women after pregnancy loss assigned the highest score to the support obtained from their partner (respectively, miscarriage: M = 9.26, EP: M = 9.23). Social support was significantly correlated with the condition of patients hospitalized as a result of pregnancy loss (p < 0.05). The assessment of psychophysical condition, health, and QoL of the respondents is determined by their education, financial standing, and obstetric history (p < 0.05).ConclusionsWomen hospitalized due to miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy assigned high scores to the level of perceived available instrumental, emotional, and actually received social support. There is a positive relationship between social support and subjective opinion about psychophysical condition, health and satisfaction with quality of life among women after pregnancy loss. The assessment is determined by sociodemographic factors and the respondents’ obstetric history.

Highlights

The task of modern medicine is not just to heal, and to improve the patient’s well-being and achieve non-medical goals in the therapy process that enable effective physical, mental and social functioning of the patient
There is a positive relationship between social support and subjective opinion about psychophysical condition, health and satisfaction with quality of life among women after pregnancy loss
Our study demonstrated that there was a positive relationship between social support and mental condition, physical condition, and satisfaction with health and quality of life among women after pregnancy loss

Summary

Introduction

The task of modern medicine is not just to heal, and to improve the patient’s well-being and achieve non-medical goals in the therapy process that enable effective physical, mental and social functioning of the patient. Social support in difficult situations is understood as a special method and type of assistance, which mobilizes an individual’s strength and resources to cope with problems. The research on social support in medical sciences reflects a holistic approach to the patient, a significant aspect of how patients and their families function. It is important for improving the level of care provided by hospital staff [1, 2, 5]. Pregnancy loss is regarded as a critical event, as it is usually traumatic in nature The consequence of this painful experience is mourning, which is a multidimensional process with mental, somatic, behavioral, and social aspects. A person in mourning requires comprehensive assistance, and social support plays an important role in moving through its successive stages [6, 7]

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