Psychological Science ›› 2013, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 876-883.

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The Relationship of Life Event and Pregnancy Stress:The Mediating Effect of Mental health and the Moderating Effect of Husband Support

  

  • Received:2012-08-01 Revised:2013-06-04 Online:2013-07-20 Published:2013-07-09

孕期生活事件与妊娠压力:心理健康的中介效应和丈夫支持的调节作用

李丹1,徐鑫锫1,刘俊升2,吴苹3,3   

  1. 1. 上海师范大学
    2. 华东师范大学
    3.
  • 通讯作者: 刘俊升
  • 基金资助:
    上海市教委科研创新重点项目(11ZS130);上海市浦江人才计划

Abstract: Pregnancy is not only a natural biological process, but also a complex and changeable period of emotion. Pregnant women are often influenced directly by life events during pregnancy. They usually face many big physiological and psychological changes which may affect their psychosomatic health and increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Moreover, pregnant women will experience enormous pressure. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the relationship between life events and pregnancy stress of pregnant women by adding mediator and moderated mediator, which mental health status was considered as a mediator and husband support as a moderated mediator. A total of 403 pregnant women during their 24~33 weeks pregnancy were administrated to fill out basic information scale, life events questionnaire, pregnancy stress scale and the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale according to their actual situation. The results showed that: (1) the main effect of gestational age was not significant (F(6,774)=.88, p>.05) whereas the main effect of pregnant plans was significant (F(3,387)=3.07, p<.05). Moreover, gestational age combined with pregnant plans to affect pregnant women’s pregnancy pressure remarkably (F(6,774)=2.47, p<.05), especially in terms of pregnant women who was under 25-year-old; (2) life event was positively related to pregnancy stress and negatively related to mental health of pregnant women (r=.332 and -.252, p<.01); (3) the effect of life events on pregnancy was partially mediated by mental health status of pregnant women, that is, life events exercised an influence on pregnancy stress through mental health status. The proportion of the mediating effect was 11.92 percent. Moreover, husband support moderated the mediating effect which was caused by mental health status (β=-.117, p<.05); when the degree of husband support which was reported by pregnant women was high, mental health status significantly predicted pregnancy stress, that is to say, the mental health status was better, then the pregnancy stress was lower (β=-.479, p<.001); when the degree of husband support which was reported by pregnant women was low, the prediction of mental health status was not significant to pregnancy stress (β=-.071, p>.05). All in all, adjusting mental health status of pregnant women and providing them relevant social support were important to pregnant women, fetus, even families. Husbands, as expectant fathers, should pay attention to wives’ thoughts and feelings, care about their physical changes initiatively, encourage them to face with life events bravely and try to build favorable family atmosphere. All these will be good for pregnant women to have joyful and relaxed emotional experience. Accordingly, pregnant women can reduce pregnancy stress and confidently wait for the coming of a new life. The results also can let some child health care organization and gynecologists attach great importance to give suggestions and provide knowledge and any other beneficial help.

Key words: mental health, pregnancy stress, life event, husband support

摘要: 用问卷调查法对上海市403名单胎、孕周在24~33周的孕妇进行研究,探讨怀孕过程中孕妇经历的生活事件和妊娠压力的关系,以及孕妇的心理健康状况和丈夫支持在其中所起的作用。结果表明:(1)怀孕计划的主效应显著,孕龄的主效应不显著,怀孕计划和孕龄的交互作用显著;妊娠压力在怀孕计划上的主效应显著,意外怀孕的孕妇的妊娠压力显著高于计划怀孕的孕妇的妊娠压力;(2)怀孕过程中孕妇经历的生活事件与妊娠压力呈显著正相关,与孕妇的心理健康呈显著负相关;(3)孕妇的心理健康状况在生活事件和妊娠压力的关系中起部分中介效应,即生活事件部分通过孕妇的心理健康状况影响孕妇的妊娠压力;而丈夫支持则对孕妇心理健康的中介效应起调节作用,当丈夫支持高时,心理健康状况越好的孕妇,其妊娠压力越低,心理健康状况对孕妇妊娠压力预测显著;当丈夫支持低时,心理健康状况对妊娠压力的预测不显著。

关键词: 心理健康, 妊娠压力, 生活事件, 丈夫支持