Coping in healthy primigravidae pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To describe coping in healthy pregnant women and examine sociodemographic factors associated with coping styles.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive survey.


METHODS
Childbirth classes at 2 Midwestern urban hospitals.


METHODS
Healthy primigravidae (N=159), ages 18 to 34, in their third trimester.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, descriptive survey of healthy pregnant women using 2 reliable coping tools to measure pregnancy coping and general coping styles and determine their associations with sociodemographic factors.


RESULTS
Prayer and task coping were the most frequently used coping styles; avoidance and emotion coping were used least frequently. Younger age was associated with greater use of preparation and distraction coping. Non-White race was associated with frequent use of prayer, task, and distraction coping. Education less than graduate school was associated with frequent use of preparation.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthy pregnant women used a variety of coping styles, and sociodemographic factors influenced them. Future research requires diverse samples to explore prayer in pregnancy and the influence of stress and other psychological factors on coping styles. Nurses have many opportunities to assess coping during pregnancy. Nurse-directed community-based programs that promote healthy coping can optimize maternal and newborn health.
Borcherding
Kathy E
KE
College of Nursing, University of Missouri at Saint Louis, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121-4400, USA. borcherdingk@umsl.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors