Stress, locus of control, hope and depression as determinants of quality of life of pregnant women: Croatian Islands' Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS)

Abstract

The aims were to investigate determinants of the quality of life (QoL) of pregnant women. Total of 302 healthy women 18 to 28 weeks of gestation participated in prospective study. WHOQOL-bref, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the perceived stress appraisals were administered. Various patterns of predictors for four domains of QoL were identified, for psychological (42% variance explained), social relationship (29%), environmental (29%) and physical health (25%). Depression and hope, together with the extent to which one's health is influenced by powerful other or chance should be targeted in health promotion strategies during pregnancy.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all participants and their new-born children as well as all collaborators who participated in the CRIBS project.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by grant of the Croatian Scientific Foundation (HRZZ UIP-2014-09-6598).