Valentina Fenaroli

Parenting stress, mental health, dyadic adjustment: A structural equation model

Objective: In the 1st year of the post-partum period, parenting stress, mental health, and dyadic adjustment are important for the wellbeing of both parents and the child. However, there are few studies that analyze the relationship among these three dimensions. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between parenting stress, mental health (depressive and anxiety symptoms), and dyadic adjustment among first-time parents. Method: We studied 268 parents (134 couples) of healthy babies. At 12 months post-partum, both parents filled out, in a counterbalanced order, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the potential mediating effects of mental health on the relationship between parenting stress and dyadic adjustment. Results: Results showed the full mediation effect of mental health between parenting stress and dyadic adjustment. A multi-group analysis further found that the paths did not differ across mothers and fathers. Discussion: The results suggest that mental health is an important dimension that mediates the relationship between parenting stress and dyadic adjustment in the transition to parenthood.

Perinatal Parenting Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Outcomes in First-Time Mothers and Fathers: A 3- to 6-Months Postpartum Follow-Up Study

Objective: Although there is an established link between parenting stress, postnatal depression, and anxiety, no study has yet investigated this link in first-time parental couples. The specific aims of this study were 1) to investigate whether there were any differences between first-time fathers’ and mothers’ postnatal parenting stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms and to see their evolution between three and 6 months after their child’s birth; and 2) to explore how each parent’s parenting stress and anxiety levels and the anxiety levels and depressive symptoms of their partners contributed to parental postnatal depression. Method: The sample included 362 parents (181 couples; mothers’ MAge = 35.03, SD = 4.7; fathers’ MAge = 37.9, SD = 5.6) of healthy babies. At three (T1) and 6 months (T2) postpartum, both parents filled out, in a counterbalanced order, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: The analyses showed that compared to fathers, mothers reported higher scores on postpartum anxiety, depression, and parenting stress. The scores for all measures for both mothers and fathers decreased from T1 to T2. However, a path analysis suggested that the persistence of both maternal and paternal postnatal depression was directly influenced by the parent’s own levels of anxiety and parenting stress and by the presence of depression in his/her partner. Discussion: This study highlights the relevant impact and effects of both maternal and paternal stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms during the transition to parenthood. Therefore, to provide efficacious, targeted, early interventions, perinatal screening should be directed at both parents.

FEAR OF CHILDBIRTH: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE VALIDATION OF THE ITALIAN VERSION OF THE WIJMA DELIVERY EXPECTANCY/EXPERIENCE QUESTIONNAIRE (WDEQ)

This work tests the psychometric features of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ), a self-report instrument that measures the fear of childbirth, in an Italian sample. To 522 Italian primiparous women attending antenatal classes, the following assessments were administered: Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (Wijma, Wijma, & Zar, 1998), StateTrait Anxiety Inventory (Pedrabissi & Santinello, 1996; Spielberger, Gorsuch, Lushene, Vagg, & Jacobs, 1983), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Benvenuti, Ferrara, Niccolai, Valoriali, & Cox, 1999; Cox, Holden, & Sagovsky, 1987), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (Dazzi, Pedrabissi, & Santinello, 2004; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1991). The WDEQ shows good psychometric properties even regarding the Italian primiparous population, but the analyses suggest a reduction in the number of items. The factorial structure identified both in the pre-natal (WDEQ-A) and the post-partum (WDEQ-B) version consists of three factors: fear, negative feelings, and lack of confidence. The questionnaire measures expectations (WDEQ-A) and personal experience (WDEQ-B) of childbirth. The fear factor represents a specific dimension of the scale.

Italian women’s childbirth: a prospective longitudinal study of delivery predictors and subjective experience

Abstract Background: Previous research has demonstrated that negative childbirth expectations adversely influence perinatal outcomes. The current research builds on this with Italian mothers-to-be. Objective: The present study (1) explored the influence of cognitive and emotional variables on labour and delivery outcomes and (2) examined how individual characteristics, couple adjustment, and medical factors influence the childbirth experience. Method: 121 Italian primiparous women participated in a prospective longitudinal study where participants completed a set of questionnaires between the 32nd and 37th week of pregnancy and again 30–40 days post-delivery. Results: Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that women with negative childbirth expectations were three times more likely to experience an emergency C-section or an instrumental vaginal delivery. Furthermore, childbirth expectations predicted subjective birth experience. This relationship between expectations and delivery type and the subjective childbirth experience was weak while other variables (such as anxiety, depression, couple adjustment) did not significantly influence delivery type or the subjective childbirth experience. Conclusions: The weak relationship between childbirth expectations and perinatal outcomes renders it necessary to question the nature of the relationship found in previous research, especially considering inconsistencies of the literature on the subject. The current research makes it clear that further research is needed to understand better the relationship between expectations and perinatal outcomes in order to better improve the well-being of mothers-to-be during labour and delivery.

Il trapianto di organo da vivente : le motivazioni a donare e a ricevere un rene

Lo scopo del presente contributo e comprendere le motivazioni che caratterizzano i trapianti di rene da donatore vivente; la letteratura, infatti, si e sino ad ora poco occupata di questi temi; inoltre ricerche precedenti hanno evidenziato un basso livello di consapevolezza circa le motivazioni a donare e a ricevere un rene. La tecnica utilizzata per la ricerca e il focus group, ideale per esplorare tematiche poco conosciute, come appunto la motivazione nel trapianto di rene da vivente. Sono state condotte due differenti discussioni di gruppo: una con i donatori e una con i riceventi; globalmente sono stati considerati 12 partecipanti. Gli incontri di gruppo sono stati condotti dagli autori, video-registrati e successivamente trascritti. Le analisi sono state condotte con T-Lab. I risultati evidenziano come riceventi e donatori considerano e hanno sperimentato l’esperienza di donazione: appare assolutamente normale donare e ricevere, ma questa normalita dipende dal tipo specifico di relazione tra le persone coinvolte: la motivazione infatti e strettamente connessa al legame tra donatore e ricevente.