Depression, perceived stress, and social support among first-time Chinese mothers and fathers in the postpartum period

We compared the prevalence of depression in the postpartum period and its relationship with perceived stress and social support in first-time mothers and fathers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in mainland China with a convenience sample of 130 pairs of parents. Measures taken at 6-8 weeks after delivery included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Social Support Rating Scale. Eighteen (13.8%) of the mothers and 14 (10.8%) of the fathers were suffering from depression. No signficant differences were found in their prevalence rates. Perceived stress, social support, and partner's depression were significantly associated with depression. These findings suggest counseling, support, and routine screening for depression should be provided to both mothers and fathers.     

Sense of Coherence,Parenting Attitudes and Stress among Mothers of Children with Autism in Hong Kong

Background The moderating and mediating relationships among sense of coherence, parental attitudes and parenting stress for caregiving parents of children with autism were tested. Materials and Methods One hundred and fifty‐seven mothers of children with autism recruited from representative community service centres in Hong Kong completed the Chinese versions of Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), Confidence and Acceptance subscales of Parent‐Attitude Survey Scales and Parenting Stress Index Short Form. Results Accounting for mothers’ demographic background, SOC showed a moderating effect with child's symptoms and parenting stress. Mothers with a strong SOC perceived lower stress than their counterparts even when their children presented with more severe autistic symptoms. Two proximal factors in parenting, parental confidence and acceptance of the child, were found to partially mediate SOC and stress. Conclusions The stress experience of mothers of children with autism is related strongly to a global sense of coherence as well as more specific parenting attitudes.     

震区医务工作者的心理一致感与创伤后应激障碍的相关研究

目的:探讨震区医务工作者心理一致感(SOC)水平及与创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)的相互关系。方法:以706名四川震区医务工作者为被试,采用德国埃森创伤问卷(ETI)及心理一致感问卷(SOC-13)为研究工具,运用描述统计、差异检验、相关分析方法统计数据。结果:①女性SOC总分和意义感维度得分明显高于男性。女性PTSD高激惹症状得分明显高于男性。②年龄≥30岁的群体意义感得分、高激惹得分显著高于年龄30岁的群体。③非PTSD组的SOC总分及其各个维度得分均显著高于PTSD组。④SOC及各维度与PTSD及各维度间显著负相关。结论:震区医务工作者SOC的意义感维度与PTSD的高激惹症状均与性别和年龄有关;确诊PTSD组医务工作者的SOC得分显著低于与非PTSD组;SOC与PTSD显著负相关,提示SOC对PTSD起到缓冲、调节和预测作用。     

Living with fibromyalgia: Sense of coherence,perception of well-being,and stress in daily life

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome that has a considerable impact on the ill person's daily life. The purpose of this study was to describe levels of sense of coherence (SOC), perceptions of well-being, and stress in daily life in women with FM in comparison with healthy women, and to determine whether SOC is related to perceived levels of stress and well-being. Thirty women with FM were compared with 30 healthy women matched for Type A behavior. The results revealed a complex picture of the women with FM. On the one hand, they reported many symptoms but, on the other, they rated themselves as feeling quite well and experiencing an SOC in life, despite severe problems. The FM women with a stronger SOC perceived greater well-being than those with a weaker SOC. They felt more hopeful, more free, more valuable, and more like others. Results suggest that women with a weaker SOC may need extra support. More research is needed to investigate the experience of living with FM in order to discover what it is that makes life worthwhile despite high symptom levels. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 20: 495–503, 1997     

Effectiveness of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model for improving the care knowledge,skill, and sense of competence in mothers of preterm infants

ObjectiveThis quasi-randomized controlled trial was performed to evaluate the effects of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model (PPM) in enabling mothers of preterm infants to develop care knowledge, skill, and a sense of competence.MethodsAmong 116 mothers of preterm infants, 60 received traditional discharge education (control group) and 56 received PPM discharge education (PPM group). Improvement in knowledge and skills was transformed into the mothers’ routine daily care of infants. The primary outcome was knowledge of preterm infant care. The secondary outcomes were preterm infant care skills and a sense of competence, routine intervention compliance among mothers, and the readmission rate of infants 6 months after discharge.ResultsSix months after discharge, the mean knowledge score and mean skills score were significantly higher in the PPM group than in the control group. The mothers’ sense of competence with respect to both self-efficacy and satisfaction was also significantly better in the PPM group than in the control group. Moreover, intervention behavior compliance and the readmission rate were significantly better in the PPM group than in the control group.ConclusionCare knowledge, skills, and sense of competence in mothers of preterm infants improved after implementation of the PPM.     

Relationships among parenting stress,health-promoting behaviors,and health-related quality of life in Korean mothers of children with cerebral palsy

Health-promoting behaviors have been shown to enhance the quality of life across diverse populations. In this study, we examined the indirect effects of several health-promoting behaviors on the relationship between parenting stress and health-related quality of life in mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). A convenience sample of Korean mothers (N = 180) of children aged 10 months to 12 years with CP was recruited from clinical and school settings. Health-promoting behaviors were measured using the health-promoting lifestyle profile II, which is comprised of six subscales: health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted to examine the mediating role of these behavioral categories. Spiritual growth (β = .56, p < .05) had an indirect effect on the relationship between parenting stress and physical health-related quality of life while spiritual growth (β = −1.00, p < .01) and stress management (β = −.80, p < .05) were found to mediate the association between parenting stress and mental health-related quality of life. The findings of multiple mediation analyses provide evidence of the influence of specific health-promoting behaviors on health-related quality of life, thereby informing the development of intervention programs for mothers of children with disabilities.     

Sense of coherence and experiences of social support and mastery in the early discharge period after an acute cardiac event

Aims and objectives. The aim of this study was to examine sense of coherence and experiences of change in social support and mastery from a short‐term perspective in patients who had been admitted to hospital with a suspected myocardial infarction. Background. The early discharge period after an acute cardiac event can be a stressful and vulnerable time when psychosocial resources are of the utmost importance. A positive outcome in an encounter with a stressor is thought to be linked to a strong sense of coherence, social support and mastery. Design. A multi‐centre survey was conducted in three hospitals in southern Sweden. Methods. The sample was 300, 241 of whom completed the questionnaires; while in hospital and two weeks postdischarge. Results. In the early discharge period a low sense of coherence was found in over 60% of the sample. There was an association between social support and mastery and between sense of coherence and mastery. Differences in social support ratings, with lower ratings two weeks postdischarge, were found among women and persons over 65 years of age. Conclusions. This study adds knowledge about experiences in the early discharge period. Changes in ratings of social support but not in ratings of mastery were found between baseline and two weeks postdischarge. Relevance to clinical practice. Healthcare professionals need to be sensitive to patients’ sense of coherence, mastery and need for social support during the early discharge period. They can help patients to identify adequate support strategies and prevent future potential complications. However, to routinely assess sense of coherence, social support and mastery, there is a need for a simple and useful instrument in clinical practice.