Further evidence of psychological factors underlying choice of elective cesarean delivery (ECD) by primigravidae

Objective: Requests for elective cesarean delivery (ECD) have increased in Iran. While some sociodemographic and fear-related factors have been linked with this choice, psychological factors such as self-esteem, stress, and health beliefs are under-researched. Methods: A total of 342 primigravidae (mean age = 25 years) completed questionnaires covering psychological dimensions such as self-esteem, perceived stress, marital relationship quality, perceived social support, and relevant health-related beliefs. Results: Of the sample, 214 (62.6%) chose to undergo ECD rather than vaginal delivery (VD). This choice was associated with lower self-esteem, greater perceived stress, belief in higher susceptibility to problematic birth and barriers to an easy birth, along with lower perceived severity of ECD, fewer perceived benefits from VD, lower self-efficacy and a lower feeling of preparedness. No differences were found for marital relationship quality or perceived social support. Conclusions: The pattern suggests that various psychological factors such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, and perceived stress underpin the decision by primigravidae to have an ECD.

Searching for Psychological Predictors of Suicidal Ideation in University Students / Investigando Preditores Psicológicos de Ideação Suicida em Estudantes Universitários

ABSTRACT The present study aims to identify psychological predictors of suicidal ideation in university students. We collected a sample of 366 participants, representing a population of 7102 students from a university in northern Portugal (95% CI). Both in the whole sample and in the intra-gender analysis, students with suicidal ideation revealed higher levels of depressive symptoms, loneliness, social anxiety and fears of abandonment, and lower levels of comfort with intimacy and trust in others. Loneliness and depression are significant predictors of suicidal ideation, with an odds ratio of 1.095 and 1.108, respectively. The results were consistent with those found in the literature, and call for more research and implementation of intervention protocols in university populations.

RESUMO Este trabalho buscou investigar preditores psicológicos de ideação suicida em estudantes universitários. Coletaram-se dados de 366 participantes, que representavam uma população de 7102 estudantes de uma universidade no Norte de Portugal (95% CI). Tanto na amostra total como nas análises intra-gêneros, estudantes com ideação suicida revelaram maiores níveis de sintomas depressivos, solidão, ansiedade social e medo do abandono, bem como menores níveis de conforto com a intimidade e confiança nos outros. Solidão e depressão mostraram-se preditores significativos de ideação suicida, com uma odds ratio de 1,095 e 1,108, respectivamente. Os resultados foram consistentes com os encontrados na literatura e destacam a necessidade de pesquisas e da implementação de protocolos de intervenção junto à população universitária.