ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Research suggests that the extent to which stress is perceived as enhancing or debilitating can impact how stress is experienced, stress reactions, and stress-related outcomes. Given that there is a salient perception of stress as harmful during pregnancy, our aim was to investigate stress mindsets as a moderator of established associations between prenatal stress and elevations in anxiety and depression. Design: A survey design was used, yielding cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Methods: Participants (n = 388) completed a survey that included measures of stress, anxiety and depression, and stress mindsets during their pregnancy; a subset responded to a brief follow-up questionnaire assessing mental health outcomes six to eight weeks postpartum (n = 103). Results: Stress mindsets in pregnancy moderated the effect of perceived and pregnancy stress on prenatal anxiety and depression, as well as the effect of prenatal ratings of the pregnancy as a stressor on postpartum depression. The positive effect of stress on mental health outcomes grew stronger when stress was viewed as more debilitating, but was no longer significant when stress was viewed as more enhancing. Conclusions: Though further research is needed, a positive stress mindset could be protective against some of the negative effects of prenatal stress.

摘要

背景和目标：研究表明，压力被视为增强或削弱的程度会影响压力的体验方式、压力反应和与压力相关的结果。鉴于人们普遍认为怀孕期间的压力是有害的，我们的目的是调查压力心态作为产前压力与焦虑和抑郁升高之间既定关联的调节剂。设计：使用调查设计，产生横截面和纵向数据。方法：参与者 ( n  = 388) 完成了一项调查，其中包括对怀孕期​​间压力、焦虑和抑郁以及压力心态的测量；一个子集回答了一份简短的后续调查问卷，评估产后六到八周的心理健康结果（n = 103)。结果：怀孕期间的压力心态调节了感知压力和妊娠压力对产前焦虑和抑郁的影响，以及产前评估妊娠作为压力源对产后抑郁的影响。当压力被认为更使人衰弱时，压力对心理健康结果的积极影响变得更强，但当压力被认为更增强时，压力就不再显着了。结论：虽然需要进一步的研究，但积极的压力心态可以防止产前压力的一些负面影响。