Telethon Kids Institute, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jun 29;18(13):6958. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18136958.
The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between emotional health and wellbeing and support needs of perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to understand their experiences and need for support. This is a potentially vulnerable group and a critical developmental phase for women and infants. A mixed methods design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data that provided a robust insight into their unique needs. A total of 174 women who were either pregnant or post-birth participated. The main findings demonstrated that women in this cohort experienced varying levels of stress and isolation but also positive experiences. Exploring the relationship between mental health (perceived stress and wellbeing) and resilience (mindfulness and self-compassion) revealed an association between positive mental health and higher levels of mindfulness and self-compassion. Positive mindsets may be protective against psychological distress for the mother and her child, suggesting that meditation-based or similar training might help support expectant and post-birth mothers during times of crisis, such as a pandemic. This information could be used to make recommendations for future planning for practitioners and policymakers in preparing for prospective infection waves, pandemics, or natural disasters, and could be used to develop targeted tools, support, and care.
本研究旨在探讨 COVID-19 大流行期间围产期妇女的情绪健康和幸福感与支持需求之间的关系，并了解她们的经历和支持需求。这是一个潜在脆弱的群体，也是妇女和婴儿的关键发育阶段。采用混合方法设计收集定量和定性数据，深入了解她们的独特需求。共有 174 名孕妇或产后妇女参与。主要发现表明，该队列中的妇女经历了不同程度的压力和孤立，但也有积极的体验。探索心理健康（感知压力和幸福感）和韧性（正念和自我同情）之间的关系表明，积极的心态与更高水平的正念和自我同情之间存在关联。积极的心态可能有助于保护母亲及其孩子免受心理困扰，这表明在危机时期，如大流行期间，基于冥想或类似的训练可能有助于支持孕妇和产后母亲。这些信息可用于为从业者和政策制定者提供未来规划的建议，以应对未来的感染浪潮、大流行或自然灾害，并可用于开发有针对性的工具、支持和护理。
