Psychosocial factors related to emotional disturbances during pregnancy

This study explored a multifactorial model for the understanding of the factors related to the intensity of prenatal emotional disturbances. Data were gathered from 213 pregnant women during the second trimester of pregnancy. Participants were assessed according to a number of psychosocial variables. Two types of prenatal emotional disturbances were examined: depressive symptoms and ambivalence and fears related to maternity. A path analysis indicated that four risk factor domains had a direct effect on depressive symptom level: locus of control; interpersonal relationships; stressors; and psychiatric history. Four risk factor domains also had a direct effect on the level of ambivalence and fears: sociodemographics; depressive symptom level; interpersonal relationships; and family history. Several factors showed an indirect effect on one or both of the disturbances. These results indicate that the study of factors related to prenatal emotional disturbances benefits from a multifactorial model assessing direct and indirect effects. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.