PSYCHOSOCIAL RESOURCES AND RISK FACTORS BEFORE AND AFTER CHILDBIRTH: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY AMONG SECOND TIME MOTHERS

ABSTRACT Previous literature stated that the transition to parenthood is marked by many stressful changes. Studies focused on the transition to first time-motherhood as implying a radical overhaul of individuals' hierarchy of values, requiring an experiential adjustment to new environmental challenges, and a redistribution of the limited psychic resources among them in daily life. In spite of the radical changes that are connected to the birth of the second child, literature on second-time motherhood is scarce and under-investigated. Moving from these premises, the study aimed at analysing the psychosocial resources and the risk factors associated to second-time motherhood before and after childbirth. In particular, we focused on mothers' everyday life and quality of experience. The novelty in the present approach was to focus on the joint analysis of well-being, in both its hedonic and eudaimonic components, and ill-being, evaluated in terms of risk of perinatal depression. Participants were 22 women (aged 24-40) recruited at the Obstetric and Gynaecology Unit of Hospital Luigi Sacco of Milan, between November 2011 and January 2014. Data were collected through single-administration questionnaires assessing well-being and ill-being indicators, as well as real-time measures, assessing everyday life and quality of experience. In particular, data were collected trough Experience Sampling Method (ESM), providing on-line information on the experience fluctuation during daily life. For one week participants carried an electronic device sending acoustic randomised signals 6-8 times a day. At signal receipt, participants provided self-reports about ongoing activities and associated experience. Likert-type scales measured emotional, cognitive, and motivational psychological dimensions, including challenges perceived in the activity and related personal skills. Answers to open-ended questions were assigned numeric codes and grouped into categories according to functional criteria. The values of scaled variables were standardised before analysis. Moreover, the relationship between levels of perceived challenges and skills - on the one side - and the quality of experience - on the other side – was explored through the Experience Fluctuation Model (EFM). Findings obtained from single-administration instruments analysing well- and ill-being indicators showed that women overall reported low levels of depression and psychopathological symptoms, as well as good mental health both during and after pregnancy. Evidence obtained from real-time instruments highlighted that women's daily quality of experience was subject to fluctuations associated with contingent roles and tasks required by motherhood: Along with meaningful sources of optimal experience, the elective investment on children and nuclear family could also be intended as an important source of boredom, relaxation and apathy. Results showed that the complexity and specificity of second-time pregnancy and puerperium transition should encourage health professionals to adopt a more articulated prevention approach, supporting mothers’ healthy psychological adjustment. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study focusing on the joint analysis of well-being, in both its hedonic and the eudaimonic components, and ill-being, evaluated in terms of risk of perinatal depression.