The role of partner support, ego-resiliency, prenatal attitudes towards maternity and pregnancy in psychological well-being of women in high-risk and low-risk pregnancy

ABSTRACT

We have shown by multiple regression analyses that partner support (as an external source of support) and ego-resiliency (as a personality trait and internal source of support) are significant factors contributing to pregnant women’s satisfaction with many different domains of psychological well-being (PWB), such as positive relations with others, self-acceptance, and environmental mastery, facilitating better psychological adaptation to pregnancy and motherhood. Type of pregnancy (high-risk or low-risk) is important for two areas of PWB of pregnant women, namely positive relations with others and self-acceptance. The attitudes towards maternity and pregnancy are weaker predictor than ego-resiliency and partner support and they are significant only for one PWB dimension – autonomy. Positive or negative attitudes towards motherhood and the unborn child depend on the education level. They are less stable factors than ego-resiliency. Empirical evidence is found for the moderating role of the pregnancy type (low- vs. high-risk) in the relationships between support from partner and two dimensions of PWB: positive relations with others and purpose in life. The received partner support helps women in high-risk pregnancy with positive psychological functioning, especially in maintaining the belief that their life is purposeful and in sustaining quality relationships with others.

KEYWORDS:

• Pregnancy
• partner support
• psychological well-being
• ego-resiliency
• attitudes towards motherhood and pregnancy

Acknowledgments

We appreciate all the pregnant women who participated in this study. We thank Prof. Wojciech Cnota and Dr Aleksander Ilski from the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinic in Ruda Śląska for their help in conducting our research at the Clinic.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors