Unit:
Faculty of MedicineLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Papapetrou Christina
Dissertation committee:
Αναστάσιος Κουζούπης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνσταντίνος Πάντος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνσταντίνος Πανουλής, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Νικόλαος Βλάχος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή ΕΚΠΑ
Μακάριος Ελευθεριάδης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή ΕΚΠΑ
Παναγιώτα Περβανίδου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιορδάνης Μουρούζης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Βιοψυχοκοινωνική προσέγγιση της επιτόκου: Η επίδραση των γονεϊκών προτύπων ανατροφής και των τύπων δεσμού στο περιγεννητικό στρες
Translated title:
A biopsychosocial approach of the expectant mother: the impact of parenting patterns and attachment styles on perinatal stress
Summary:
Throughout this study we aimed to examine current literature and research on “attachment theory” and its expression on the specific field of obstetrics, the perinatal period.
The current PhD thesis aims to observe and describe the impact of the different subtypes of attachment (“secure” & “insecure” attachment) on the perceived and biological expressions of stress regarding a distinct group of participants, the expectant and the new mothers, given the turning point of childbirth, a rather important, yet stressful life event.
In medical settings in general, and in the field of obstetrics in specific, which is the clinical domain of the perinatal period, obstetricians, psychiatrists and psychologists often come across antenatal and postnatal concerns, psychological issues as well as psychiatric symptomatology stemming from a closer observation of the women’s difficulties or reported by women themselves. Subtypes of attachment are examined regarding their imprint on the benefits, as well as the difficulties and risks they place on women during each perinatal stage.
The research procedure of the current PhD project was based on the administration of four different psychometric tools (questionnaires) which were completed by a sample of pregnant women and new-mothers (N=105) from the 2nd Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, while simultaneously salivary cortisol and salivary alpha – amylase samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory. A statistical analysis of all the aforementioned results then followed.
The results obtained, aligned with the literature reviewed, indicated that “insecurity” in attachment and important relationships appears to render women more vulnerable in relation to stress symptoms and depressive symptomatology, postnatally. More specifically, results showed a significant relationship between maternal postnatal salivary cortisol levels on the one hand, and prematurity of birth, a history of previous labour(s) and maternal attachment style on the other hand. In addition, results obtained from the smaller group of participants (N=37) whose samples were collected and measured both ante- as well as postnatally, indicated that the subcategories of “dismissive” and “fearful” styles of attachment were linked to elevated maternal postnatal salivary cortisol levels, suggesting that individuals (mothers) belonging to these subcategories of insecure attachment experience greater distress during the perinatal period altogether.
At the same time, “security” attachment-wise, tangibly observed in couples with strong intramarital support, appears to offer a protective barrier against adversities by enabling securely attached women to remain calmer and make better use of their emotional and social resources throughout the challenging perinatal phase. Consequently, mothers-to-be become more eligible to overcome perinatal difficulties by the use of patterns of behavior that promote their well-being.
Through the in-depth review of the current literature on attachment theory available and the tools of knowledge it equips us with, we attempted to assemble the real challenges and needs deriving from the demands that pregnancy, labour and the postpartum place on new mothers, as well as the way close relationships become affected by or, correspondingly, can be positively used in order to protect and shield women and their families from acknowledged stressful perinatal phases.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Attachment theory, Perinatal period, Pregnancy, Stress, Psychological adjustment
Number of references:
467
File:
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PhDCPapapetrouMay2021.pdf
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File access is restricted only to the intranet of UoA.
