What makes new mothers unhappy: psychological distress one year after birth in Italy and France.
The aim of this report is to present results on the factors associated with psychological distress in 724 Italian and 629 French women 12 months after birth. The prevalence of distress was ascertained by the 12-item Goldberg Health Questionnaire (GHQ), using a cut-off score of > 5. Results show that, in both countries, after controlling for previous psychological health, the variables significantly associated with mothers' distress were: an unsatisfactory couple relationship; lack of a confidante; a baby with serious health problems, financial worries. In Italy, also being an older mother and a discrepancy between actual and desired employment status were associated with a high GHQ score. These results point out to the high prevalence of mothers' psychological distress in Latin countries too, and stress the role played by family and social factors.
Romito
P
P
Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Trieste, and IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy. romito@univ.trieste.it
Saurel-Cubizolles
M J
MJ
Lelong
N
N
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires