title: Post-traumatic growth in women after childbirth.
abstract: Childbirth is a complex event that leads to a variety of psychological outcomes. This cross-sectional study examined post-traumatic growth in women following childbirth (N = 219) using an online questionnaire, and explored associations between growth, support and control during birth, coping after birth and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At least moderate degrees of growth were reported by 50.2% of women and average levels of growth were similar to those reported following accidents and assaults. Growth was positively related to approach coping and the avoidant strategy of seeking alternative rewards, but was unrelated to support and control during birth, other avoidant coping strategies after birth, and PTSD symptoms. It is concluded that growth does occur following childbirth. Further research is needed to clarify factors associated with growth in women following childbirth and to determine if growth is associated with psychological benefits in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult