Coping during pregnancy: a systematic review and recommendations

Abstract

Extensive evidence documents that prenatal maternal stress predicts a variety of adverse physical and psychological health outcomes for the mother and baby. However, the importance of the ways that women cope with stress during pregnancy is less clear. We conducted a systematic review of the English-language literature on coping behaviors and coping styles in pregnancy using PsycInfo and PubMed to identify 45 cross-sectional and longitudinal studies involving 16,060 participants published between January 1990 and June 2012. Although results were often inconsistent across studies, the literature provides some evidence that avoidant coping behaviors or styles and poor coping skills in general are associated with postpartum depression, preterm birth, and infant development. Variability in study methods including differences in sample characteristics, timing of assessments, outcome variables, and measures of coping styles or behaviors may explain the lack of consistent associations. In order to advance the scientific study of coping in pregnancy, we call attention to the need for a priori hypotheses and greater use of pregnancy-specific, daily process, and skills-based approaches. There is promise in continuing this area of research, particularly in the possible translation of consistent findings to effective interventions, but only if the conceptual basis and methodological quality of research improve.

Benson's Relaxation Therapy: Its effect on Stress and Coping among Mothers with High Risk Pregnancy

“…Avoid: Women can discard physical changes during pregnancy and try to hide their feelings about pregnancy. [11,12] A Proper coping mechanism for stress is essential for pregnant women to protect maternal and fetal health.…”

“…[ 11] Relaxation techniques are powerful tools for coping with stress and promoting long term health in mothers with high risk pregnancy by slowing down the body and quieting the mind. Benson's relaxation therapy is a meditation technique which was pioneered by the physician Herbert Benson during 1970 and it is based on his observation that relaxation therapy procedures are single relaxation responses characterized by diminished sympathetic arousal.…”

On the relation of self-efficacy and coping with the experience of childbirth

“…[6][7][8][9] In a systematic review of the literature on coping behaviors and coping styles in pregnancy, Guardino and Schetter found some evidence on the association of avoidant coping behaviors or styles and poor coping skills in general with postpartum depression, preterm birth, and infant development. [10] Pregnant women have at their disposal a wide range of useful coping strategies for childbirth, such as acquiring information on the common procedures and expected sensations during birth, as well as cognitive, behavioral and physical strategies, involving the manipulation of cognitions, individual's overt actions or a person's physique; the use of the whole range of coping strategies seems to bear a beneficial effect on the experience of pain. [11] The present study is based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory, a powerful construct to analyze coping behaviors.…”

Examining the Impact of Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (The PATH Study): Protocol for a Feasibility Study (Preprint)

“…Newly acquired fatigue, physical pain and discomfort, and emotional irregularity greatly impact one's ability to cope with environmental stressors and engage in health promotion behaviors [16][17][18] . When combined with the intimate and invasive nature of perinatal care, it is no wonder that this time period may be traumatic and potentially triggering for survivors of IPV 19,20 -particularly those with symptomatology of depression, anxiety or PTSD 8,12,21 .…”