Psychological Response to COVID-19 Affects Pregnancy Stress

FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among pregnant women, the psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic positively affects pregnancy stress, and security sense negatively affects pregnancy stress, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Qing-Xiang Zheng, R.N., from Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital in Fuzhou, China, and colleagues conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey study involving 331 pregnant women to examine the psychological status of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were obtained from the psychological questionnaire for emergent events of public health, pregnancy stress scale, and security questionnaire.

The researchers found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the most common psychological responses among pregnant women were fear and depression. Psychological response was found to positively affect pregnancy stress, while security sense had a negative impact on pregnancy stress. The response between psychological response and pregnancy stress was mediated by security sense.

“Nurses or midwives can also alleviate the stress of pregnant women by enhancing their security sense during the COVID-19 epidemic,” the authors write.

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