Background and Objective: Obesity, as a predisposing factor for various diseases, has become the focus of the health systems worldwide. Social, psychological, and economic consequences associated with obesity have become a global threat. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of quality of life, based on coping strategies and spiritual health among pregnant women with obesity.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with participation of 200 pregnant women with obesity, who were referred to health centers in Arak in 2019, and were selected via convenience sampling method. Data were collected via World Health Organization Quality of Life, Billings and Moose Coping Strategies, and Spiritual Health of Pullotzin and Ellison Questionnaires. Data were analyzed via SPSS software version 24.
Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 29.1 (4.4) years. Increased mean (SD) problem-solving score 14.1 (4.1) (P<0.001), and decreased mean (SD) emotion-focused coping score 33.3 (9.5) (P=0.004) were associated with increased mean (SD) score of quality of life 92.2 (13.5). With the increase in physical health with the mean (SD) of 45.5 (5.3), the score of quality of life increased: 92.2 (13.5), P=0.002. Coping strategies and spiritual health dimensions explain 22% of the variance of quality of life among pregnant women with obesity.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the variables of coping strategies and spiritual health could explain the quality of life among pregnant women with obesity.
Keywords: Quality of Life; Coping strategies; Spiritual health; Pregnant women; Obesity.
How to cite this article: Noroozi E, Dehghani A, Nokani M, Haghayegh A. Predictors of Quality of Life based-on Coping Strategies and Spiritual Health among Pregnant Women with Obesity. Salāmat-i ijtimāī (Community Health). 2021; 8(2): 264-274. DOI: http://doi.org/10.22037/ch.v8i2.31247.
*Corresponding Author: Akram Dehghani, Email: dehghani2016@phu.iaun.ac.ir
Extended Abstract
Introduction: High body mass index during pregnancy leads to fetal abnormalities, premature birth, and increased risk of childhood obesity (1). Obesity can have adverse effects on the ability of people to experience an active and dynamic life. In addition, it affects the functional capability of individuals to have an active life (2) which could impair one's quality of life (3). In this sense, pregnant women with obesity try to benefit from coping strategies to reduce their anxiety (4). Coping strategies aim to increase the psycho-social abilities of individuals and enable the individual to deal effectively with conflicts of life (5). Furthermore, enhancing religious beliefs and spirituality is often considered as a constructive coping strategy in improving the psychological health of pregnant women (6). Despite the widespread prevalence of anxiety and stress in pregnant women and the negative impact of obesity with anxiety and stress on the type of delivery, the interaction between stress coping strategies and quality of life among pregnant women has not been studied. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of quality of life based on coping strategies and spiritual health among pregnant women with obesity.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 200 pregnant women with obesity, who were referred to health centers in Arak in 2019, and were selected via convenience sampling method. Data were collected via World Health Organization Quality of Life (7), Billings and Moose Coping Strategies (8), and Spiritual Health of Pullotzin and Ellison (9) Questionnaires. Data were analyzed via SPSS software version 24.
Results: There was a direct relationship between attitudes and commitment to prayer and parental religious performance (correlation coefficient=0.58), religious performance among peers (correlation coefficient=0.45), and religious performance at university (correlation coefficient=0.36), P<0.001. Higher scores of religious performance among parents, peers, and that at university were positively correlated with attitude and commitment to prayer among students. No significant differences were found between female and male students and those who were single and married in terms of the score of attitudes and commitment to prayer.
Discussion: Quality of life improves as problem-solving increases and emotion-focused decreases, which was consistent with another study on the relationship between coping strategies, quality of life, and mood in patients with incurable cancer (10). Increased psychological endurance, religious beliefs, and positive thinking are associated with problem-oriented coping strategies to solve the stress of pregnancy. In addition, there is evidence that there is a relationship between quality of life and coping strategies (11). Coping refers to a person's cognitive and behavioral efforts to adapt to a stressful situation or reduce the resulting turmoil. Notably, coping is not a single strategy used in all times and situations, but people cope in different situations, times, and against different stressors separately. A person's interpretation and estimation of events are more important than the events themselves. Studies show that there is a positive and significant relationship between problem-oriented coping and quality of life. Among the dimensions of spiritual health, only existential health could predict the quality of life. Another study showed that a high level of spiritual and religious health in pregnant women is significantly associated with increased quality of life (6). Spiritual health includes the power to live calmly and value oneself and others in peace and harmony and peace, self-awareness and feelings, decision-making power in crises, and coping with life pressures. It is acceptable that spiritual health and increased quality of life in pregnant women with obesity have a positive relationship. However, in stressful pregnancies and deliveries, physicians should consider the greater need of pregnant women for spiritual support and effective coping strategies and provide more careful spiritual care in addition to routine prenatal care.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the variables of coping strategies and spiritual health could explain the quality of life among pregnant women with obesity. Acknowledgment: Authors would like to thank all the study participants and the Vice-Chancellor in Research Affairs of Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University.
Acknowledgment: Authors would like to thank all the study participants and the Vice-Chancellor in Research Affairs of Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University.
Conflict of Interest: None of the authors has any conflict of interest to disclose.
Ethical publication statement: We confirm that we have read the Journal's position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.
Ethical code: IR.IAU.FALA.REC.1399.019.
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