The relationship of couples' time perspective to pregnant women's depression symptoms and stress: Preliminary results

Małgorzata Sobol; Agata Błachnio; Michał Meisner; Artur Wdowiak; Marek K Sobol

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111495

The relationship of couples' time perspective to pregnant women's depression symptoms and stress: Preliminary results

J Psychosom Res. 2023 Nov:174:111495. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111495. Epub 2023 Sep 14.

Authors

Małgorzata Sobol¹, Agata Błachnio², Michał Meisner³, Artur Wdowiak⁴, Marek K Sobol⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00-183 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: malgorzata.sobol@psych.uw.edu.pl.
² John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, al. Raclawickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00-183 Warsaw, Poland.
⁴ Medical University of Lublin, Al. Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, Poland.
⁵ Hospital Center Châlons-En-Champagne, 51 Rue du Commandant Derrien, 51000 Châlons-En-Champagne, France.

PMID: 37717426
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111495

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship of a couple's time perspective to a woman's depression symptoms and stress.

Method: The participants were 48 pregnant women and 46 male partners of these women. The measurements have been taken during the first and third trimester. Women were examined by gynecologists during gynecological visits. During these visits measurements of gynecological pregnancy evaluation were administered. Then women completed online questionnaires: the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory Past Negative scale, the Dark Future Scale, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale at home. Men completed online questionnaires: the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory Past Negative scale, and the Dark Future Scale at home.

Results: The results showed that women's past negative perspective in the first trimester was related to depression symptoms and stress in the first trimester. In the third trimester, women's future negative perspective was related to depression symptoms. Men's future negative perspective in the first trimester was related to women's stress in the first trimester. Moreover, the results suggest that the level of the woman's future negative perspective significantly increases during pregnancy.

Conclusions: Attitudes towards time of both the pregnant woman and her partner are related to the emotional state of the woman during pregnancy.

Keywords: Depression symptoms; Pregnancy; Stress; Time perspective.