ABSTRACT
Introduction: The transitional period of pregnancy, with the physiological changes that follow, can trigger mental disorders, with anxiety and depression to be the dominant mood disorders. The factors affecting women’s mental health, are complex and involve social, midwifery, individual and psychological domains.
Aim: To investigate the factors responsible for women’s mental health during pregnancy.
Methodology: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted with a convenience sample of 152 women who were followed up during their pregnancy in the hospital of Kavala. The participants were administered a self-report questionnaire including a) questions on demographic/obstetric characteristics b) the questionnaire of optimism (LOT-R) c) the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) d) the depression scale, anxiety and stress DASS-21 e) the Subjective Happiness Scale-Subjective Happiness Scale g) and the Tokophobia Assessment Questionnaire.
Results: The majority of pregnant women expressed mild depression mean score= 3.6 (±4.6), mild anxiety mean score= 4.3 (±4.5) and mild stress mean score= 6.4(±4.8) and low fear of childbirth mean score= 1.6 (±0.6). The measurement of optimism mean score 15.6 (±3.3) and subjective happiness mean score= 19.6 (±3) was high, with the majority having reported very satisfied with life mean score= 27.7 (±4.2). The findings of the study revealed advanced trimester of pregnancy appeared was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress, while earlier trimester was positively associated with tokophobia.
Key words: anxiety, pregnancy, depression, tokophobia, mental health
