Women's Coping Research Articles

Kinship support and coping with infertility: A qualitative study of women struggling with infertility from Delhi-NCR, India

In cultures across the world, attaining motherhood is considered to be an essential part of a woman's life. Inability to have children can have personal and social implications. At the personal level, it can cause distress among women. At the societal level, women have to face discrimination and isolation, all of which take a toll on their mental health. The present study aims to understand how support from kinship networks, particularly spousal and familial support might facilitate or act as barriers to better coping with the stress, anxiety and depression caused by infertility among women living with infertility. The study was part of a larger research project funded by the National Commission for Women, India, it included qualitative interviews with 30 infertile women, comprising 15 high scorers in at least two mental health variables (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) and 15 low scorers with minimal scores in at least two of these variables. Grounded theory was employed for data analysis and interpretation. Upon interviewing the women, it was found that important factors supporting coping in women were spousal and family support. Further it was found that these factors promoting good mental well-being did not function separately but were in conjunction with each other. We argue that kinship support is fundamental to coping with infertility in India, and that emotional support and understanding provided by partners and loved ones can be critical in enhancing and maintaining the mental well-being of women dealing with infertility.

Relationship between emotional intelligence, quality of life, and infertility stigma in infertile woman: A descriptive-correlational study.

Infertility is one of the major crises in couples' lives, affecting both mental and physical health. One of the most significant consequences of infertility is stigma; moreover, emotional intelligence and women's coping style with these consequences can affect the quality of this disorder. This study aimed to investigate emotional intelligence, infertility stigma, quality of life, and the relationship between these variables in infertile women. This descriptive-correlational study was conducted from April 2023 to February 2024 on 349 infertile women referred to "Hazrat Maryam Infertility Center in Shahid Beheshti hospital" and "Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center" in Isfahan, Iran. Sampling was done using a convenience sampling method, and tools included 4 questionnaires, a demographic and midwifery information form, the quality of life questionnaire, the female-infertility-stigma-questionnaire, and the Schutte-Emotional-Intelligence scale. The results showed that the women's mean age was 35.08 7.60 yr. The mean score for emotional intelligence was 109.06 6.12, and the infertility stigma's was 56.1 14.73. The results indicated a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and infertility stigma (r = 0.13, p 0.001). Only the mean score of social well-being and general health dimensions had a significant relationship with the total score of emotional intelligence (r = 0.037, p 0.02). Infertile women have a lower quality of life and experience higher stigma. Since the quality of life and overall mental health affect the treatment process, also emotional intelligence plays an important role in human life, educational sessions and counseling should be considered in the treatment programs to improve the quality of life, thereby facilitating the treatment process with greater ease and speed.

Obstetric Violence (OV) Consequences and Coping Strategies: Insights Through the Voices of Arab and Jewish Women in Israel.

This qualitative research amplifies the voices of Jewish and Arab women in Israel, illuminating their experiences with obstetric violence, its consequences, and coping strategies. The premise of this study is the feminist approach that aims to eradicate phenomena related to gender and patriarchal structures affecting women, their bodies, and their health. The research was based on the qualitative-constructivist methodology, by means of thematic analysis of 20 in-depth semistructured interviews. Two main themes emerged: first, consequences (e.g., physical, emotional, spousal relationships, and mistrust) and second, women's coping strategies (e.g., repression, avoidance, garnering inner strengths, resilience, and relying on external help).

Effect of an educational intervention program on pregnant women’s ability to cope with childbirth pain in Western Kenya

INTRODUCTION Childbirth pain has remained a major challenge to women of child-bearing age over the years. Studies have shown that most women are not aware of the coping strategies to employ during childbirth. Severe childbirth pain can lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, it is imperative to develop safe and innovative methods to cope with childbirth pain. The study aimed to investigate the effects of an educational program on women's ability to cope with childbirth pain in the context of lower and middle-income countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS A Quasi-experimental design was used to assess the impact of an educational intervention built on self-efficacy theory. Pregnant mothers were recruited at antenatal care services and were assigned to either the control group or the intervention group. The intervention group received two sessions of 2 hours each of the intervention between the 32nd– 35th weeks of gestation. Follow-up and evaluation on outcome measures were conducted within 48 hours after delivery. The strength of pain was measured by the visual analogue pain scale and the Mac-Gill pain questionnaire. RESULTS Findings indicate that relative to the control group, the intervention group was significantly more likely to demonstrate lower perceived pain both on the visual analogue scale (P<0.001) and the McGill pain questionnaire (P<0.001). Further analysis revealed that the non-intervention group had increased severe pain [OR=3.099,95% CI (1.080-8.887), P=0.035], unbearable pain [OR=27.930,95% CI (9.354-83.399), P=<0001], while permanent employment reduced unbearable pain [OR=0.038 95% CI (0.003-0.549), P=0.016]. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The educational intervention program was effective in decreasing pain intensity and severity during childbirth. Training programs should be integrated into the antenatal care program and offered to mothers during the third trimester of pregnancy to enhance women's coping skills during childbirth.

Coping With Side Effects: A Daily Diary Study in Women With Breast Cancer Living With Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy.

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is increasingly being prescribed for up to 10years to people diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. AET intake is often accompanied by side effects that significantly impact the well-being of people. The way individuals cope with medication-related side effects might play a pivotal role in their emotional adaption. This intensive-longitudinal study investigated the association between self-reported coping strategies (Brief COPE) and psychological well-being (Patient Health Questionnaire-4) among women undergoing AET. A multilevel factor analysis resulted in the identification of four coping factors, namely, problem-focused, support-focused, meaning-focused, and avoidance-focused coping. Daily coping efforts and experienced side effects were analyzed as predictors of psychological well-being using multilevel modeling. A total of 215 women (Mage=56.5±10.9years) participated, resulting in a total of n=2080 daily surveys (M=9.67±1.08). On average, women reported 3.7±2.2 different side effects per day. Days characterized by an elevated frequency of side effects and increased burden were associated with diminished well-being. Using more problem- and meaning-focused strategies than usual to cope with side effects correlated positively with well-being. Conversely, employing more support- and avoidance-focused coping strategies than usual was linked to reduced psychological well-being. Exploratory analyses focusing on individual coping strategies provided nuanced insights into coping behaviors. The present findings underscore the relationship between women's coping efforts concerning medication-related side effects during AET and their daily well-being. Psychosocial education (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy) may offer valuable benefits for patients by helping them develop adaptive coping strategies to manage side effects.

Reaction to Disease and Coping Strategies in Stressful Situations among Psoriasis Patients: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: In the contemporary world, a cult of perfection is being created, and deviations from such an ideal image are becoming socially unacceptable. A particular situation arises when a defect or symptoms of a disease appear on the skin, which, in the case of people suffering from psoriasis, are a source of stress, dissatisfaction with the disease, and a reduction in quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess whether the quality of life related to the occurrence of psoriasis and the level of acceptance of the disease affect coping strategies in stressful situations. Methods: The study involved 111 people with common psoriasis (46.8% women and 53.2% men). Inclusion criteria were as follows: a diagnosis of common psoriasis for at least 0.5 years, no other types of psoriasis, no mental illnesses, and an informed consent of the respondent to participate in the study. In order to compile the research input, a proprietary questionnaire was used along with the following standardised tools: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results: The duration of the disease in the studied population varied and ranged from 0.5 years to over 50 years. Most respondents showed relatively low DLQI scores, with an average value of 10.8 points. In stressful situations (CISS), the respondents primarily used a strategy based on rational thinking (Task-oriented coping), with approximately 54 points on average; followed by an avoidant style (Avoidance-oriented coping), with approximately 50 points on average; and least often an emotional style (Emotion-oriented coping), with approximately 46 points on average. The average level of disease acceptance (AIS) in the studied group equalled approximately 26 points. Conclusions: Psoriatic lesions on the torso caused less rational behaviour in stressful situations (a decrease in the Task-oriented coping) in women but had the opposite result in men, whereas psoriatic lesions on the head stimulated the use of Task-oriented coping in women but had the opposite result in men. The higher the acceptance of the disease (AIS) presented by the respondents, the less often they used an emotional strategy (Emotion-oriented coping) in stressful situations. The higher the quality of life (DLQI) was, the lower the values of Emotion-oriented coping were noted.

Empowering mind-body wellness: effect of bundling seated exercises and psychoeducational rehabilitation using the teach-back approach on fatigue and coping of women postmastectomy

BackgroundBeing diagnosed with Breast Cancer (BC) is a crisis that throws the patient’s life out of balance. Cancer-related fatigue is a debilitating sign experienced by women during and after BC treatment. Regular physical exercise may help mitigate patients’ fatigue, enhance coping abilities, improve their quality of life, and overall well-being. In parallel, psychological interventions are geared toward normalizing the lived painful experiences among oncology patients.Objectiveto examine the effect of bundling seated exercises and psychoeducational rehabilitation using the teach-back approach on fatigue and coping of women postmastectomy.MethodsA quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Oncology Surgical Department and chemotherapy unit at the Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt. A total of 60 women were randomly allocated to either to the study or the control groups. Women in the study group practiced seated exercises and psychological rehabilitation interventions, including mindfulness breathing, problem-solving training, cognitive reframing technique, and thought stopping while the control group received the routine care.ResultsThe study revealed a significant decline in the fatigue mean scores among participants in the intervention group from 136.10 ± 27.76 to 98.43 ± 25.99 (p < 0.001). Similarly, there was a significant decrease in the patients’ mean scores of maladaptive coping, helplessness/ hopelessness (p = 0.014), and anxious preoccupation (p = 0.008). In contrast, there is a noticeable increment in the scores of adaptive coping, such as fighting spirit (p = 0.012), cognitive avoidance (p = 0.002), and fatalism (p = 0.009).ConclusionBundling seated exercises and psychological rehabilitation interventions using the teach-back approach have been proven to be simple and inexpensive non-pharmacological methods of reducing cancer-related fatigue and improving coping skills among women post-mastectomy.Trial registration numberNCT06360276, ClinicalTrails.gov, Retrospectively registered (April 8th, 2024), URL of trial registry record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06360276.

Irresponsibility Stereotypes Exacerbate Effects of Sexual Violence on Cisgender Bisexual Women's Coping Drinking Motives.

Bisexual women experience disparities in alcohol use outcomes compared to both lesbian and heterosexual women. Bisexual women also experience higher rates of sexual violence (SV) and alcohol use following SV. We examined whether coping drinking motives mediate the link between adult SV severity and alcohol use and whether dimensions of binegativity (i.e., hostility, instability, irresponsibility) moderate the effects of SV. The sample consisted of 355 young (ages 18-35) cisgender bisexual women drinkers (Mage=25.8, 84.2% White) recruited via MTurk. Measures included: Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization (Koss et al., 2007), Anti-Bisexual Experiences Scale (Brewster & Moradi, 2010), Modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised (Grant et al., 2007), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption subscale (Babor et al., 2001). The PROCESS macro for SPSS was used. There was an interaction between SV severity and irresponsibility stereotypes in predicting coping motives. SV severity related to greater coping motives at mean and high, but not low, levels of irresponsibility stereotypes. Indirect effects of SV severity on alcohol use via coping motives were significant at mean and high, but not low, levels of irresponsibility stereotypes. Hostility and instability dimensions of binegativity did not interact with SV severity in predicting coping motives. Results identified SV severity and irresponsibility stereotypes as compounding experiences that may explain greater alcohol use. Bisexual women exposed to this dimension of binegativity may be particularly vulnerable to drink alcohol to cope with distress following SV. Interventions for alcohol use may be enhanced by helping bisexual women cope with SV-related distress and irresponsibility stereotypes.

Effects of generational age on religious coping and psychological outcomes in females exposed to interpersonal violence.

This study seeks to examine the psychological outcomes and religious coping styles of women who are exposed to IpV as it relates to generational differences. A national stratified convenience sample of women in the United States (N = 1,165) was recruited online using the Qualtrics crowdsourcing service. Participants (n = 538) who reported having experienced interpersonal violence (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, assault with a weapon) were designated as the IpV group. Those (n = 627) who reported no exposure to these events were designated as a no IpV comparison group (Non-IpV). Several two-way analyses of variance revealed that there was a statistically significant interaction between generations and IpV for depression, F(2, 1159) = 3.78, p = .023, anxiety, F(2, 1159) = 4.77, p = .009, stress, F(2, 1159) = 4.10, p = .017, and positive religious coping, F(2, 1,159) = 3.57, p = .028. These results suggest that generational differences may exist in psychological outcomes and RS coping in women who have experienced IpV compared to comparison groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Use of the Strong Black Woman Construct in Research: An Integrative Review.

This was an integrative review of the literature on research using the strong Black woman (SBW) construct. We searched for data-based articles that mentioned SBW and examined topical areas of investigation, health outcomes and other constructs associated with SBW, and methods used to assess SBW. We found 47 articles. SBW was used to study coping with trauma (n = 11) or perceived offense (n = 10), or engaging in health-seeking behaviors (n = 10). Eighteen studies suggested that SBW was linked to several major health conditions (eg, hypertension, obesity, heart disease) and depressive and anxiety symptoms. SBW was positively correlated with undesirable coping behaviors (eg, self-silencing, maladaptive perfectionism) and negatively associated with self-compassion and help-seeking. The most common method of assessing SBW was using a structured questionnaire (n = 21). Longitudinal studies to examine the impact of SBW belief on Black women's coping with hardship were lacking.

A Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches for Managing Labour Pain Using Synthetic Drugs and Natural Therapies.

The birth of a child is a critical and potentially traumatic experience for women, entailing multiple physiological and psychosocial changes. The psychological effects of childbirth pain can have both immediate and long-term effects on the mother's health and her bond with her child. Many studies investigated the different ranges of synthetic drugs available for pain control in labour, inclusive of neuraxial analgesics, inhaled analgesics, and various opioids. The inadequate efficacy and unfavourable side effects of these synthetic drugs prevent appropriate pharmacotherapy, resulting in a quest for natural therapies for reducing labour pain. Herbal therapies (aromatherapy) using several essential oils obtained from various natural plants are another alternative that calms and manages the mind and body through aromatic compounds that have neurological and physiological effects. The review discussed the safety profile of various synthetic drugs with their dosage information and also deliberated on the mechanism and safety profile of various natural plants that are used in aromatherapy. The review also briefly highlighted the other non-pharmacological miscellaneous techniques such as TENS, hypnosis, immersion in water, acupuncture, massage, and different other tactics that aim to assist women in coping with pain in labour.

Coping with provoked vestibulodynia in a relational context-A cluster analysis of coping patterns and their associations with relational cognitions and goals.

Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a common pain condition, negatively impacting the relationships and sexual lives of sufferers. Women's coping behaviour has been associated with psychosexual outcomes, yet coping patterns in clinical PVD samples are unexplored, and it is not known how women's coping relates to their relational context. Women (N = 128) with PVD answered questionnaires about psychosexual function, pain coping (avoidance and endurance), relational- and pain catastrophizing, sexual goals and perceived partner responses. Cluster analysis was used to explore coping patterns; clusters were validated on measures of pain and psychosexual function and compared on catastrophizing, sexual goals and partner responses using multivariate analyses of variance. The analysis yielded four clusters: endurance; combined high avoidance and endurance; avoidance; and combined low. The group with high levels of both avoidance and endurance coping displayed the worst psychosexual outcomes and high levels of pain- and relational catastrophizing, approach and avoidance goals and perceived negative partner responses. There are distinct patterns of coping among women with PVD, and these coping patterns are associated with psychosexual outcomes and relational cognitions and goals, and perceived partner responses. Women who alternate between avoidance and endurance are more distressed and report worse psychosexual functioning. This pattern needs to be identified and addressed in the treatment of PVD. This study extends previous findings on vulvar pain coping patterns to a clinical population of women with PVD. It is further the first study to address the relationship between relational variables, such as partner responses and relational catastrophizing and different coping patterns. Thus, the contribution of this study is the contextualizing of coping patterns among women with PVD. The results showed that a combined pattern of avoidance and endurance coping is associated with high distress, poor psychosexual outcomes, and indications of insufficient relational coping, highlighting the need for clinical assessment and intervention to target both women's individual coping patterns and their relational context.

The dyadic associations among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and health-related quality of life between high-risk pregnant women and spouses: a cross-sectional study.

Health-related quality of life(HRQoL) is essential for high-risk pregnant women and their spouses. This study aimed to explore the dyadic associations (including actor and partner effects) among self-efficacy, dyadic coping, and HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses and examine the mediating effect of dyadic coping. This cross-sectional study recruited participants from two Grade A tertiary hospitals in China from October 2022 to September 2023. A questionnaire including the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and 12 Short Form Health Survey Scales was used for the survey. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was constructed to test dyadic associations and mediating effects. In the actor effects, self-efficacy was positively associated with dyadic coping and HRQoL (P < 0.05). Regarding partner effects, pregnant women's self-efficacy was positively associated with spouses' dyadic coping and physical health (P < 0.05). Dyadic coping partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and HRQoL for both groups(P < 0.05). The HRQoL of high-risk pregnant women and their spouses requires urgent attention. Enhancing self-efficacy and dyadic coping in these couples is related to their improved physical and mental health. Healthcare professionals should consider interactions between couples and include them together in perinatal care. Intervention programs for couples or families based on existing positive psychology and dyadic interventions may work together to improve the HRQoL of couples.

A Dyadic Study of Attachment, Coping, and Quality of Life in Couples Seeking Fertility Treatment

This study examined attachment insecurities, infertility-specific coping strategies, and quality of life (QoL) in 87 couples seeking fertility treatment. Partners completed self-report measures. Path analyses showed that women’s and men’s attachment anxiety were associated with their own lower QoL, whereas attachment avoidance was associated with their own and their partner’s lower QoL. Adaptive coping in men and women were associated with women’s higher QoL. Non-adaptive coping was associated with men and women’s lower QoL. Coping strategies explained the associations between attachment and QoL. This highlights the importance of individual and dyadic factors for understanding QoL in couples seeking fertility treatment.

Coping in Women With Breast Cancer Awaiting a Surgical Intervention: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Breast cancer affects a woman’s body and mind in complex ways and is more than just a physical condition that requires medical treatment. Objective: To investigate how women with breast cancer undergoing surgical treatment cope with and adjust to the disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study between April 12 and July 22, 2022. This study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Results: A total of 125 women participated (median age 52). Most (64.8%) responded rationally, 25.4% emotionally, and 9.8% nonprevailing. About 76.2% used problem-focused coping. Women living with others had better adaptation than those alone. Emotional appraisal increased the likelihood of poor adaptation compared to rational appraisal. Nonprevailing coping was linked to a 6-fold increase in psychosocial maladjustment (OR, 5.88; 95% CI,1.14-30.30). Conclusions: The study indicates that women with breast cancer tend to adopt problem-focused coping strategies, with rational responses correlating with better psychological adaptation outcomes, while emotional or nonprevailing responses may lead to poorer adjustment. Implications for Practice: Coping strategies should be shared by oncology nurses with targeted women, especially if their potential for postdiagnosis positive psychological change is considered. What is Foundational: Women diagnosed with breast cancer eligible for surgical treatment may undergo a positive psychological transformation, as the majority exhibit a problem-focused, rational approach to the disease.

Dyadic coping and associated factors in women with high-risk pregnancy and their spouses: Do they interact?

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the present situation of dyadic coping in pregnant women with high-risk pregnancy and their spouses, as well as the relevant factors and the interactions between partners. MethodsFrom October 2022 to September 2023, a cross-sectional survey was undertaken, involving 460 pairs of pregnant women with high-risk pregnancy who were hospitalized for childbirth and their accompanying spouses. These participants completed self-assessments on dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, perceived stress, and self-efficacy through the completion of paper questionnaires. The collected data was then subjected to analysis utilizing correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. The actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) was then developed using the structural equation modeling(SEM) to test the binary association. FindingsPregnant women preferred to utilize stressful communication, whereas their spouses employed supportive and delegated coping. Both external (such as education level, employment status, and medical insurance) and internal (such as marital satisfaction, perceived stress, and self-efficacy) factors were associated with pregnant women's dyadic coping. Education level and internal factors were also associated with the spouses' dyadic coping. In contrast to spouses, who can only have a partner effect on pregnant women through marriage satisfaction, all pregnant women's internal elements played the partner effect on the spouses' dyadic coping. ImplicationsThe study's findings help identify populations with inadequate coping ability. Promoting marital satisfaction, self-efficacy, and reducing perceived stress are associated with enhancing the dyadic coping ability of pregnant women with high-risk pregnancy and their spouses. It also suggests that antenatal care should intervene with pregnant women with high-risk pregnancy and their spouses as a whole, and emphasize collaborative coping and effective mutual support between couples rather than spousal support alone.

Psychological Capital and Work Stress Mediated by Authentic Leadership and Moderated by Gender

The purpose of this study was to validate a model that examines the effect of psychological capital on work stress, the mediation of authentic leadership, and the moderating effect of gender on this relationship. The study used a structural equation analysis to validate the research hypotheses in a sample of firms from different industries. The results confirm that psychological capital has a negative impact on work stress, as well as a positive relationship with authentic leadership, and the latter has a negative impact on work stress. The mediating effect of authentic leadership on the relationship between psychological capital and work stress was also confirmed. In addition, gender moderation shows that the impact of psychological capital on reducing work stress is stronger for women than for men. The findings provide conceptual information for improving employee performance by empirically validating the relationship between three constructs that have not previously been studied in an integrated manner. It also takes into account the differences between men and women in coping with work stress, which is very important for organizations. The surveys of the constructs studied are a potential source of information for managers because they help identify factors that contribute to improved employee performance. As with all research that examines psychological constructs, the present study has limitations related to the operationalization of these constructs. Future studies could replicate and extend the research in other economic sectors and with other demographic and cultural variables. The influence of other contexts on the relationships studied could be identified.

Comparison of the Effect of 2 Virtual Education Methods: Family-based Versus Peer-Support on Perceived Stress and Stress Coping in Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Stress is an overwhelming feeling in patients with breast cancer (BC). However, The effect of virtual education has not been fully regulated. Hence, this study intends to compare the impact of 2 virtual education methods on perceived stress and stress coping in women with BC. A 3-armed randomized clinical trial was conducted among 315 women with BC who were referred to the Cancer Institute in Tehran. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups: (a) Family-based, receiving family-based training package; (b) peer-support, receiving peer-support educational package; and (c) control, receiving routine hospital care. Data were collected through demographic and disease characteristics, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-21) questionnaires before and 3 months after the intervention. The effect of the group factor after controlling the before-intervention scores in perceived stress, problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented strategies were P < 0.0001, P = 0.015, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.111, respectively. Also, the effect of the confounding factor of BC disease stage in the dependent variables was P = 0.527, P = 0.275, P = 0.358, and P = 0.609, respectively. The effect size test showed that before the intervention, the mean scores of perceived stress, problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented strategies were 32.00 ± 7.03, 19.36 ± 4.68, 25.10 ± 5.90, and 17.65 ± 6.64 respectively, but after the intervention showed a decrease in mean scores of perceived stress, emotion-oriented, and avoidance strategies. What is vibrant in virtual family-based education is far more effective than peer support when problem-oriented coping increases. Conversely, reducing perceived stress in women with BC receiving enough information and family support should be considered.

Fear of giving birth alone: Experiences of psychological distress, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and coping- strategies of childbearing women during COVID-19

BackgroundPsychological distress during pregnancy is a well-documented risk factor for adverse maternal outcomes. Distress related to the COVID-19 pandemic may further increase the vulnerability of pregnant women to negative mental health outcomes. AimTo explore the mental health experiences of pregnant women, focusing on mental health outcomes, challenges related to the pandemic, coping strategies, and factors buffering mental health factors during the restricted COVID-19 lockdown period. MethodsA mixed-methods survey study was conducted, examining symptoms of anxiety, depression, and burnout among 21 pregnant women. Qualitative data were gathered through open-ended questions about participants’ experiences of challenges, coping strategies and buffering factors amid the pandemic. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and burnout were calculated, and qualitative data was thematically analyzed. ResultsApproximately one-third (24 %) of the respondents reported clinically significant levels of depression, 19 % reported clinically significant levels of anxiety, and 43 % reported experiencing burnout. All participants reported distress and emotional burden, including fear, worry, stress and anxiety related to the pandemic. Specific concerns such as fear of giving birth alone, fear of the consequences due to lockdown restrictions, insufficient information, disruption of prenatal healthcare services, and fear of miscarriage were prevalent among the participants. Social support, financial stability, stable relationships, adherence to daily routines, reduced stress and social demands, a calmer daily life, physical activity, and less work-related stress including working from home, emerges as buffering factors that aided women in coping with pandemic-related distress. ConclusionHealthcare providers should prioritize stability, predictability, and minimizing disruptions to prenatal care. Broad-based screening is crucial to identify women at risk of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Recommendations for clinical pathways aimed at pregnant women are discussed.

The protective role of mindfulness in the cyberhate experience

In today's world, widespread and uncontrolled access to social media channels, along with the possibility for individuals to hide their identities or use pseudonyms, can turn the internet, especially the social media environment, into a tool for violence for women due to many potential situations. The purpose of this article is to inform about a study conducted with the participation of ten women actively involved in the Kars/Sarıkamış cooperative, focusing on the impact of mindfulness method on coping with the various short and long-term negative effects of cyberviolence on women. The research flow includes introducing the concepts discussed in the study and their relationships, the purpose of the research, the methodology, results, and future steps that can be taken. The aim of the research on the role of mindfulness in the experience of cyberviolence is to understand the effects of cyberviolence on women from the perspective of ten women participants actively involved in the Kars/Sarıkamış women's cooperative and the impact of mindfulness on women in coping with these effects. This study is of a qualitative nature, and survey research and focus group discussions have been preferred as the methods. The research results show that participants acknowledged the short and long-term negative psychological, physiological, and social effects of cyberviolence on individuals, but it also emerged that by strengthening solidarity among women and increasing the availability of methods such as mindfulness, the negative effects of cyberviolence can be reduced.