Psychological Well-being Of Women Research Articles

Time to rectify past mistakes and take a woman-centred approach to labour progress

In this article, the authors discuss a woman-centred approach to labour progress using an awareness of the physiological variations which exist in labour and they highlight the current WHO recommendations for labour progress. There is a call to action to protect the emotional and psychological well-being of women. This can be done through informed consent and valuing HOW we communicate with women as being equally important as WHAT happens during the birth process. Therefore, midwives and obstetricians should encompass an awareness of respectful communication in intrapartum care and be mindful of the language used. Supporting choice and control and empowering autonomy in women needs to be prioritized. Thus, maternity needs to take ownership and responsibility for the effects of past mistakes and move towards woman-centred care.

Exclusive breastfeeding and women's psychological well-being during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

BackgroundAt the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, support for breastfeeding was disrupted in many countries. Italy was severely impacted by the pandemic and is known to have the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate of all European countries. Considering the inverse association between anxiety and breastfeeding, maternal concerns about the COVID-19 emergency could reduce breastfeeding rates. The aim of the study is to explore the association between infant feeding practices and maternal COVID-19 concerns.MethodsThis paper is a secondary analysis of the cross-sectional study COVID-ASSESS conducted in Italy in 2020. The original survey was administered in two phases: during the first lockdown and during the reopening. The survey included five sections: socio-demographic, medical history, concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, infant feeding practices and psychometric evaluation. Participants were considered eligible for the post-hoc analyses if they were exclusively breastfeeding or they were feeding with infant formula (either alone or with breastfeeding) at the time of the interview.ResultsBetween phase 1 and phase 2 there was a decrease in anxiety and concerns about the danger of COVID-19 to general health, except for concerns about their baby's health. Women using formula were more concerned about all the health topics investigated. Moreover, they showed higher levels of stress, state anxiety, somatization and PTSD symptoms.ConclusionBreastfeeding during the first pandemic lockdown in Italy seems to have been an independent factor associated with lower anxiety about COVID-19, fewer psychopathological symptoms, and a positive experience of infant feeding.

Women’s holistic self-care behaviors during pregnancy and associations with psychological well-being: implications for maternal care facilities

BackgroundSelf-care behaviors during pregnancy significantly impacts mother and children's health. This study aimed to explore the self-care behaviors and the associations of these behaviors with the psychological well-being of women during pregnancy, as well as the mediating effects of different social support with these associations.MethodsA cross-sectional data of 562 pregnant women at Hanoi Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital and Ca Mau Obstetrics & Pediatrics in Vietnam were analyzed. Questions about self-care behaviors, pregnancy characteristics, social support, and psychological well-being were asked. Multivariate regression models were performed. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the mediating effects of different social support with the association between self-care behaviors and psychological well-being.Findings Only 13% of pregnant women often or always did physical exercise at least three times a week, and 40% consumed enough fiber and five servings of vegetables a day. Only 78.7% always avoided alcohol drinking, and 53.9% of pregnant women avoided being exposed to second-hand smoking and 71,7% avoided using traditional medicine without physicians’ prescriptions. Around 66% of pregnant women always or often had prenatal care checkups as scheduled. Information sources, social support and childbirth expectation were major drivers for self-care practices. SEM model showed that social support mediated the relationship between maternal health behaviors and mental well-being.ConclusionThis study highlighted the remarkable gaps in self-care practices among our pregnant women, which were significantly associated with their mental well-being. Social support-oriented consultancy and interventions should be warranted for improving behaviors and the mental well-being of pregnant women in Vietnam.

Perinatal care for women with refugee backgrounds from African countries: a qualitative study of intersections with psychological wellbeing

BackgroundExperiences with healthcare services, including perinatal healthcare services, contribute to psychological wellbeing for refugees post-resettlement. To address the paucity of literature examining the relationship between perinatal healthcare and psychological wellbeing in women with refugee backgrounds from African countries this study aimed to: (1) understand the relationship between psychological wellbeing and perinatal care amongst this population, and; (2) identify areas for improved perinatal healthcare services to ensure positive wellbeing outcomes in this population.MethodsA total of 39 participants were included in the study. Nineteen women from seven African countries participated in interviews – seven both prior to and after having their babies, two only while pregnant and ten only after their baby had been born. In addition, interviews were conducted with 20 service providers. Interviews were thematically analysed.ResultsFour key themes were identified, covering continuity of care, cultural safety of care, agency in decision making, and ongoing impacts of perinatal care experiences.ConclusionsThe results highlighted the need for changes to perinatal healthcare provision at the systems level, including implementing a continuity of care model, and ensuring women’s access to individualised, trauma-informed perinatal services which attend to the cultural and psychosocial resettlement needs of this population. These findings informed recommendations for improving perinatal healthcare services and better psychological outcomes – and in turn broader health outcomes – for African-background refugee mothers.

Work at Home and Psychological Wellbeing of Women with and without Children During COVID-19 Pandemic

Work at Home and Psychological Wellbeing of Women with and without Children During COVID-19 Pandemic

Psychological Well-Being, Prenatal Attachment, and Quality of Early Mother-Infant Interaction: A Pilot Study With a Sample of Mothers With or Without Cancer History.

Given the positive impact of high-quality mother–infant interaction on child development, and that such relationship might be hindered by maternal stresses such past cancer, research is needed to understand protective and risk factors in this clinical population. As almost no data is available on the impact of history of cancer on the quality of mother–infant interaction, a multicentric and longitudinal pilot study was conducted. Differences in women’s prenatal psychological well-being and attachment (T1, third trimester), and postnatal quality of mother–infant interaction (T2, 2–5 months) were assessed in a sample of Italian mothers with (N = 11) or without cancer history (N = 13). Results showed that women did not differ significantly in their prenatal well-being (assessed with the Profile of Mood States questionnaire) and levels of attachment (assessed with the Prenatal Attachment Inventory). Looking at mother–infant interactions (assessed using the Global Rating Scale at T2), while maternal sensitivity, warmth and intrusiveness, and infant distress and attentiveness did not differ between the two groups, in the clinical group, mothers were more remote and less absorbed in the infant, and infants showed fewer positive communications. These findings might shed light on potential protective and risk factors for early parenting and later child outcomes in this clinical population.

Психологическое благополучие заведующих отделениями медицинских организаций

Increased workloads among heads of clinical departments that result from working as both clinicists and managers may lead to the significant decline in their psychological well-being. The study was aimed to assess psychological well-being of the clinical department heads. The online survey of 216 department heads aged 32–70 having a 8–51-year experience in heathcare was conducted using the Ryff's scales of psychological well-being adopted by Shevelenkova–Fesenko, sent by e-mail or posted on the distance learning portal. The survey involved 123 men (56.9%) and 93 women (43.1%%): among them 117 people (54.2%) worked in inpatient settings, 114 people (52.8%) worked in the red zone, 138 people (63.89%) were assigned a qualification category, 63 people (29.1%) had an academic degree. Mean values, percentage, Pearson correlation coefficient, Student's t-test were calculated with the IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software. Correlations and mean differences were considered significant at р < 0.05. The average psychological well-being score was 378.67 ± 78.33; in 26 men (26%) and 28 women (43.1%) aged 36–55, the score was below standard values. Psychological well-being correlated with age (r = 0.2; p = 0.019) and years of service (r = 0.2; p = 0.008). No correlations were revealed between psychological well-being and gender (р = 0.798), type of organization (р = 0.642), the fact of having second higher education (р = 0.854), qualification category (р = 0.645), academic degree (р = 0.204), and the experience of working in the red zone (р = 0.926).Thus, more than a third of individuals aged 36–55 have psychological well-being scores below standard values. Psychological well-being of women is lower than that of men. Psychological well-being of men over the age of 35 decreases to a greater extent than standard values.

Features of personal anxiety as an indicator of psychological well-being in women

Introduction. The article presents the theoretical and methodological foundations and empirical study of the phenomenon of psychological well-being and personal anxiety in women as an indicator of their well-being. Aim. To substantiate theoretically and study empirically the impact of personal anxiety on women's well-being. Methods. Personal anxiety (Spielberger-Hanin), Psychological Well-being Scale (K. Riff), and The Scale of Subjective Well-being (A. Perude-Badu, adapted by M. Sokolova). Results. Psychological features of women with different levels of well-being and personal anxiety have been identified. The analysis of theoretical and empirical data confirmed the existence of a relationship between the psychological well-being and anxiety in women. Conclusions. In order to promote psychological well-being through socio-psychological support, a training program to reduce anxiety in women and develop their trust in others was developed and tested. The program used special techniques and instruments whose effectiveness was proved in practice.

The benefits and acceptability of virtual reality interventions for women with metastatic breast cancer in their homes; a pilot randomised trial

BackgroundWomen with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) report debilitating physical and psychological symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, and pain, that greatly impact their quality of life. Immersive virtual reality (VR) has been proposed as an adjunctive pain therapy for patients with cancer, and evidence suggests it may also decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess whether VR should be pursued as a feasible and acceptable adjunctive therapy to alleviate physical and psychological symptoms in women with MBC.MethodsWe conducted a pilot study testing the acceptability and efficacy of VR interventions with MBC patients to improve quality of life and to produce enduring decreases in fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety, and stress. Participants completed two different week-long VR experiences, reporting the prevalence of symptoms immediately before and after each study week, and 48 h later. Linear mixed models including fixed effects (VR intervention, counterbalancing order, and study week) and random effects (participant) were used to assess the effect of immersive VR on all outcome measures.ResultsThirty-eight women with MBC completed the VR interventions and were included in analyses. Significant improvements post-intervention and/or 48 h later were demonstrated for quality of life, fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety, and stress. Across the entire study period, these differences met the criteria of a clinically important difference for quality of life, fatigue, depression, and stress. Participants reported feelings of relaxation and enjoyment and were highly likely to use the interventions gain.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that VR experiences offer enduring benefits to the physical and psychological well-being of women with MBC. VR interventions are a feasible and acceptable intervention that can be conducted in a patient’s own home. Such interventions are worthy of future investigation as a novel approach to improving quality of life in a patient population that have often been overlooked.Trial registrationProspectively registered on 25th October 2019 with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ref: ACTRN12619001480178).

The Effectiveness of Self-healing Training on Psychological Well-being in Women With Hypertension

Aims: Hypertension is one of the most common health problems with chronic consequences. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of self-healing training on psychological well-being in women with hypertension. Methods & Materials: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up design and control and an experimental group. Thirty women with hypertension referred to the health centers were selected according to convenience sampling and randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n=15 per group). The research instruments included Ryff’s scale of psychological well-being (1989). Repeated measures were utilized to analyze the data. Findings: The results indicated that the mean total scores of the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up of psychological well-being scale in the experimental group were equal to 213.20, 219.98, and 220.08 respectively, and it was equal to 195.26, 197.33, and 200.06 in the control group. Also, self-healing training significantly increased psychological well-being in participants in the post-test and follow-up stages (P<0.05). Conclusion: The self-healing training increased psychological well-being in women with hypertension to strengthen the role of the individuals by reducing physiological stress, treating destructive cellular memories, lifestyle modification, and relaxation techniques. Therefore, this method can be used as a new approach with relatively lasting effects to increase the self-care skills of patients with hypertension in health-related centers.

Experiences of women undergoing abdominoplasty in the public sector: a qualitative study

Introduction: This study was designed to improve understanding of the experiences of women un-dergoing abdominoplasty in a public hospital setting, including their experience of processes of care, surgical treatment and outcomes of surgery. Methods: This was a prospective, qualitative study, with one-to-one interviews with women, tran-scription of interviews and development of themes. Results: Twenty interviews were carried out with 16 women, with four women being interviewed before and after surgery and the remaining 12 being interviewed one time only. Messages emerging from the interviews included gratitude for treatment in the public sector, uncertainty associated with waiting times and surgeon allocation, and varied satisfaction with outcomes. This article also explores the evidence for the association between physical symptoms and rectus diastasis (separa-tion of the rectus abdominis muscles) as well as mental health improvement. Conclusion: Women undergoing abdominoplasty in the public sector are not a homogenous group, either in their motivations for surgery or their reported outcomes. This qualitative study found evidence for improvement in physical symptoms and psychological wellbeing in women undergoing abdominoplasty, which supports existing quantitative studies, but also highlights a need for clear information for public sector patients, especially relating to scars, and for liaison psy-chiatry. Criteria-based assessment contributes an additional burden for these patients.

Adapted Fencing for Patients With Invasive Breast Cancer: The RIPOSTE Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

IntroductionEven if indications for mastectomy have been progressively reduced in loco-regional breast cancer (BC) treatment, the harmful effects of surgery are still numerous and can impact physical and psychological wellbeing of women. The RIPOSTE (Reconstruction, self-Image, Posture, Oncology, “Santé”-Health, Therapy, “Escrime”-Fencing) program aimed to propose adapted fencing to patients with BC. This study aims to investigate the effect and conditions of effectiveness of the RIPOSTE program.Methods and analysisThis is a prospective randomized controlled trial including 24 patients with invasive BC who have just undergone surgery. The study will be proposed to the patient and if interested, the patient will be referred to a sports physician for a medico-sportive evaluation. At the end the evaluation, if the patient meets the inclusion criteria, she will be randomly assigned to one of the 2 groups based on a 1:1 principle: Early RIPOSTE group (receive one fencing session per week for 3 months immediately after their inclusion), Delayed RIPOSTE group (receive one fencing session per week for 3 months but within the 3 months following their inclusion). Patients will be included for 6 months with 3 follow-up times (0, 3, and 6 months) by a sport physician. The primary outcome is the evolution of quality of life score. Secondary outcomes are disability score, fatigue, anxiety-depression, cost-effectiveness and process evaluation.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol has been approved by a French ethics committee (CPP Sud Méditerranée IV, N°ID-RCB: 2020-A01916-33). Results will be submitted for publication, at scientific conferences and through press releases.Trial RegistrationNCT04627714.

A single-blind, randomized, pilot study of a brief mindfulness-based intervention for the endometriosis-related pain management.

Women with endometriosis suffer from frequent symptoms despite multiple treatments in tertiary care. Although there is a need for a biopsychosocial perspective on endometriosis treatment, few conservative treatments have been investigated. We aimed to investigate the effects of a brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention (bMBI) in women with deep endometriosis who remain symptomatic despite undergoing conventional medical treatment. A randomized controlled trial was performed with two groups: a standard medical treatment plus bMBI program and only standard medical treatment as a control. A total of 63 eligible participants were randomized to bMBI and control groups. The primary outcome was endometriosis-related pain, and secondary outcomes were quality of life and stress perception post-treatment. Analyses were carried out using multiple regression models. The results show that bMBI significantly improved pain unpleasantness (Cohen's f2 =0.67, NNT=3.2), pelvic pain (Cohen's f2 =0.16, NNT=5.3) and dyschezia (Cohen's f2 =0.23, NNT=2.9) immediately post-treatment and decreased all endometriosis-related pain (Cohen's f2 ranging from 0.20 to 0.60 and NNT ranging from 5 to -9) after the follow-up. We found an extensive positive effect of bMBI on the mental health dimension in the two time point measures (Cohen's f2 =0.34 and 0.25, NNT=3.5 and 2.3) and vitality (Cohen's f2 =0.22, NNT=2.1) after the follow-up. Our study suggests that bMBI is useful for managing endometriosis-related pain and restoring women's psychological well-being. Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention (bMBI) improved endometriosis-related pain and mental health compared to standard medical care. The present findings contribute to the applicability of MBI in visceral pain patients.

Impacts of Menopause on Psychological Wellbeing of Women in Sialkot-Pakistan

Impacts of Menopause on Psychological Wellbeing of Women in Sialkot-Pakistan

Prevalence of stress and depression and associated factors among women seeking a first-trimester induced abortion in China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of stress and depression and associated factors among women seeking a first-trimester induced abortion in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Beijing, from April 1st to Oct 31st, 2021. Women seeking termination of an intrauterine first-trimester pregnancy were invited to participate and complete a digital self-administered questionnaire. The survey included socio-demographic and health questions, Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive analyses and binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS 23.0.ResultsA total of 253 women participated. Prevalence of high perceived stress (cut-off ≥ 20) and depressive symptoms (cut-off ≥ 10) was 25.3% and 22.5%, respectively. Women were more likely to suffer high stress if they reported low resilience (aOR = 16.84, 95% CI 5.18–54.79), were not-using contraceptives (aOR = 3.27, 95% CI 1.39–6.29), had low social support (aOR = 2.95, 95% CI 1.39–6.29), were non-local residents (aOR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.15–5.92), were dissatisfied with their intimate relationship (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.15–5.16), or held pro-life attitudes towards abortion (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.18–3.53). Odds of experiencing depression were higher among women who also reported high perceived stress (aOR = 19.00, 95% CI 7.67–47.09), had completed higher education (aOR = 12.28, 95% CI 1.24–121.20), and were non-local residents (aOR = 3.38, 95% CI 1.37–8.32).ConclusionsThe magnitude of perceived stress and depression was high among Chinese women seeking a first-trimester induced abortion. It is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the mental health of women seeking an abortion, especially those with high risk. Interventions to mitigate relevant associated factors could improve the psychological wellbeing of women.

Psychological well-being of women at high risk of spontaneous preterm birth cared for in a specialised preterm birth clinic: a prospective longitudinal cohort study

ObjectivesTo assess the psychological well-being of pregnant women at increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth, and the impact of care from a preterm birth clinic.DesignSingle-centre longitudinal cohort study over 1...

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Body Deformity and Psychological Well-Being in Women Seeking Cosmetic Surgery: A Quasi-Experimental Study

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Body Deformity and Psychological Well-Being in Women Seeking Cosmetic Surgery: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Sexual violence in adult women and adolescents.

Sexual violence is a widespread phenomenon, as it has been estimated that about 35.6% of women have experienced some forms of sexual abuse, with variable prevalence estimates worldwide. Sexual violence has remarkable negative consequences on women's health and quality of life, with a specific harmful impact on women's psychological well-being and sexuality. In this narrative review, we provide an overview on the phenomenon of sexual violence against adult women and adolescents, discussing its associated multiple negative consequences with a specific focus on clinical and sexological aspects. "Women-centered care" and a multidisciplinary approach appear of pivotal importance when working with sexual violence survivors. Woman should be engaged in all the clinical activities as equal partners in the decision-making process, and should be supported by multiple and different professional figures (i.e. gynecologists, psychologists, sexologists, forensic medical doctors, lawyers) working within the framework of a cooperative integrated model.

The Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy on Life Expectancy and Psychological Well-Being in Women with Breast Cancer

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on life expectancy and psychological well-being in women with breast cancer. Method: The research method was semi-experimental with pre-test-post-test design and follow-up with the control group. The statistical population consisted of all female patients between the ages of 20 and 45 with breast cancer who received a definitive diagnosis of breast cancer according to clinical and laboratory examinations by a specialist. Among them, 30 subjects were selected by available non-random sampling method and were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (positive-oriented psychotherapy) and control (15 in each group). Then, the experimental group was treated with positive psychotherapy methods based on Seligman’s (2006) protocol in 10 sessions of 90 minutes (one session per week) and the waiting list group did not undergo any intervention until the end of the follow-up. Data were collected using Snyder's Life Expectancy Questionnaire (2000) and Ryff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire (1989) and analyzed by repeated measure analysis of variance using SPSS-22 software. Results: The results showed that positive-oriented psychotherapy affected life expectancy (F=36.35, P>0.001) and psychological well-being (F=13.54, P<0.001) in women with breast cancer. Conclusion: As a result, health professionals can use any method along with other treatment methods to improve life expectancy, psychological well-being of vulnerable groups, including breast cancer patients.

Comparing the effect of education based on PRECEDE - PROCEED model in person-centered and supportive group methods on women's psychological well-being in the menopausal period.

BACKGROUND:Positive psychology introduce mental health as a positive psychological functioning and represent it as well-being psychology. From this point of view, psychological health is more supposed to be known as having positive characteristics such as self-esteem, positive social relationships, and satisfaction. This study was conducted to compare the effect of education in two methods of person-centered and supportive group based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model on women's psychological well-being during menopause.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The present study was a clinical trial. One hundred and ten menopausal women have been placed in two groups (tests and control). The training program was designed according to the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. The educational intervention was implemented for two groups (person-centered and the supportive group) and the control group did not receive any training. Data analysis was used by descriptive statistics and in the case of normal distribution of alternative tests such as Kruskal–Wallis test, Man–Whitney test, Wilcoxon, spearman correlation, Spearman correlation was used.RESULTS:Results of variance analysis showed that awareness, attitude, self-efficacy, enabling factors, reinforcement, support, behavioral environment, six psychological well-being factors were significantly different from the individual group and control group. Furthermore, the overall score of the psychological well-being was significantly higher than the control group.CONCLUSIONS:As a result of the design and deployment of health care monitoring system, building and reform of community beliefs toward women's status in decision making and their role in menopause, the design and development of support group meetings in women's health care system and enhancing women's access to specialist and heterogeneous health services tailored to the needs of the menopause.