ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: During the transition to motherhood, women may experience personal growth, especially when they are exposed to a traumatic stressor such as a global pandemic. However, few studies have employed a longitudinal design to examine the change in personal growth over time during this period. Based on the Personal Growth following Life Crisis and Transitions model, we explored the trajectory of personal growth and the factors that may predict it: COVID-19-related anxiety, maternal-fetal bonding, and dispositional gratitude. Perceived relationship quality with the partner was used as a predictor of growth in each study wave. METHOD: The sample consisted of 388 women with diverse sociodemographic backgrounds, who were recruited through social media and completed self-report questionnaires in three phases: the second half of their pregnancy, 3 months after the birth of their first child, and 3 months later. RESULTS: A linear increase in personal growth was found from pregnancy until after childbirth. Higher COVID-19-related anxiety and maternal-fetal bonding predicted higher initial personal growth, but lower change over time. Higher gratitude predicted higher initial levels of personal growth, but not the change over time. Relationship quality with the partner predicted personal growth 3 and 6 months after childbirth, but not during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Personal growth measured at a single point in time and the change in personal growth over time are distinct phenomena predicted by different variables. Variables related to higher initial levels of growth appear to predict less change over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Studies in the perinatal literature tend to focus on potential negative outcomes, but little attention has been paid to the protective factors that may be associated with better psychological well-being or positive mental changes, such as personal growth. OBJECTIVE: Drawing on the Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions, the study employed a prospective design and a sequential mediation model to examine the mechanism by which protective factors during pregnancy (dispositional gratitude, perceived relationship quality with the partner, perceived maternal-foetal bonding) may be associated, in sequence, with higher psychological well-being and personal growth after childbirth among first-time mothers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 515 women who were recruited through social media and completed questionnaires in two phases: Time 1, during the second half of their pregnancy; and Time 2, around 12 weeks after the birth of their first baby. RESULTS: Results show that gratitude was associated with higher perceived relationship quality during pregnancy, which was associated with higher maternal-foetal bonding, which in turn was associated with higher psychological well-being and personal growth after childbirth. The indirect effects were significant. CONCLUSION: The study expands knowledge of positive outcomes in the transition to motherhood, and demonstrates that positive emotions, such as gratitude, may be the first link in the chain of factors predicting better outcomes from pregnancy to childbirth.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and anticipation of the birth of the first child is considered a happy and exciting time. However, the stress involved in pregnancy has been found to put women at greater risk of impaired psychological well-being, or higher distress. Confusion in the theoretical literature between the terms 'stress' and 'distress' makes it difficult to understand the underlying mechanism that may enhance or reduce psychological well-being. We suggest that maintaining this theoretical distinction and examining stress from different sources, may allow us to gain new knowledge regarding the psychological well-being of pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: Drawing on the Calming Cycle Theory, to examine a moderated mediation model for the explanation of the dynamic between two stress factors (COVID-19-related anxiety and pregnancy stress) that may pose a risk to psychological well-being, as well as the protective role of maternal-fetal bonding. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1,378 pregnant women who were expecting their first child, recruited through social media and completed self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: The higher the COVID-19-related anxiety, the higher the pregnancy stress, which, in turn, was associated with lower psychological well-being. However, this effect was weaker among women who reported greater maternal-fetal bonding. CONCLUSION: The study expands knowledge of the dynamic between stress factors and psychological well-being during pregnancy, and sheds light on the unexplored role of maternal-fetal bonding as a protective factor against stress.
