Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of the following study was to establish whether there is any connection between an elevation of anxiety experienced by women during pregnancy or postpartum and their styles of coping with stressful situations, as well as to assess if those factors influence higher risk of incidence of perinatal depressive symptoms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A total of 229 patients admitted to the Department of Foeto-Maternal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin in 2006-2007, were recruited for the study. By means of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a study group of 76 pregnant and postpartum women with high risk of perinatal depression was assigned, as well as a control group of 153 patients without such risk. The level of anxiety and ways of coping in stressful situations were measured by means of the CISS (Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations) and STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) questionnaires.

RESULTS:

It has been shown that specific styles of coping in stressful situations and Anxiety-state or Anxiety-trait have substantial influence on higher risk of perinatal depressive symptoms in women. Conclusions: 1) The risk of perinatal depressive symptoms is associated with ways of coping with stressful situations or Anxiety-state and Anxiety-trait, 2) the risk of perinatal depression among pregnant women increases with an elevation of emotion-concentrated styles of coping in stressful situations, 3) the risk of perinatal depression among postpartum women increases with an elevation of emotion-concentrated ways of coping in stressful situations and engagement in substitute activities, 4) analysis of undertaken research indicate for suitableness of early diagnosis of specific styles of coping in stressful situations in order to implement proper therapy directed at the reduction of the risk of perinatal depression.