The mediating effect of resilience on pregnancy stress and prenatal anxiety in pregnant women

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between pregnancy stress and prenatal anxiety in pregnant women in Urumqi, Xinjiang, and the mediating effect of mental resilience level on the relationship between pregnancy stress and prenatal anxiety.MethodThe investigation involved 750 pregnant women at a tertiary hospital in Urumqi, and included a questionnaire eliciting general demographic information, a pregnancy stress scale (Pregnancy Pressure Scale, PPS), generalized anxiety disorder scale (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7), and a mental resilience scale (Connor—Davidson resilience scale, CD-RISC). The Bootstrap mediation effect test was used to test the effect relationship between variables, and Amos was used to establish the structural equation model.ResultsAmong the 750 participants, 122 (16.2%) had moderate or greater pregnancy stress (PPS > 1), 372 (49.6%) had mild or greater anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 > 5), and 241 (32.1%) had good or higher mental resilience score. Pregnancy stress negatively affected resilience (β = −0.37, p < 0.01), and resilience also negatively affected prenatal anxiety (β = −0.12, p < 0.01). The mediating effect value of resilience was 8.3%.ConclusionPregnancy stress, mental resilience, and prenatal anxiety were significantly correlated, and mental resilience played a partial mediating role in the influence of pregnancy stress on prenatal anxiety. It is recommended that pregnant women exercise their mental resilience to reduce the incidence of prenatal anxiety and promote physical and mental health.

Depressive Symptoms during Pregnancy: Prevalence and Correlates with Affective Temperaments and Psychosocial Factors

“…A possible explanation might be the positive effect of periodic follow-up visits and decreased perception of pandemic, in that specific period, in Italy. Another explanation could be the resilience provided by expecting a child, which correlates with perceived stress and anxiety [ 23 , 24 ]. In fact, higher perceived stress and anxiety have been observed in prepandemic samples, compared to samples after the breakthrough of the pandemic [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], which we attributed to the increased ability of pregnant women to cope with novel generalised threats and mobilise inner resources, such as those related to resilience [ 26 ], probably based on increased brain plasticity, which is induced by pregnancy [ 27 ].…”

Resilience to stress during pregnancy: Biopsychosocial mechanisms and implications for offspring emotional and behavioral outcomes in toddlerhood.

“…In the current study, we focus on two specific and differentiated levels of stress resilience: perceived resilience (i.e., belief in one's ability to psychologically "bounce back" and recover from stressors) and physiological recovery from stress (i.e., the body's ability to physiologically recover quickly and fully after a stressful event). Perceived resilience, measured using self-report questionnaires and sometimes referred to as psychological or mental resilience (Tuxunjiang et al, 2022), is one of the most commonly measured aspects of resilience (King et al, 2021). Perceived resilience during pregnancy may help the individual adapt positively to new and changing stressors during this life stage.…”

Effects of psychological intervention on negative emotions and psychological resilience in breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy

“…It is a dynamic state with a certain level of flexibility that changes with the environment and allows for dynamic regulation and adaptation. Individuals with higher psychological resilience recover faster after experiencing stressful events[ 26 - 27 ]. The level of psychological resilience in BC patients is influenced by factors such as gender, age, education level, and disease severity.…”

“…Psychological resilience is gaining increasing attention as a research area within positive psychology. Theoretical frameworks for psychological resilience intervention include cognitive-behavioral theory, mindfulness theory, and the adolescent resilience model[ 27 ]. Currently, the primary tools for measuring psychological resilience are the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Resilience Scale for Adults[ 28 ].…”