Persian couples’ experiences of depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in the pre- and perinatal period

Article

Abbasi, M., van den Akker, O. and Bewley, C. 2014. Persian couples’ experiences of depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in the pre- and perinatal period. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 35 (1), pp. 16-21. https://doi.org/10.3109/0167482X.2013.865722
TypeArticle
TitlePersian couples’ experiences of depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in the pre- and perinatal period
AuthorsAbbasi, M., van den Akker, O. and Bewley, C.
Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of changes in depressive symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in couples. This was examined before, during and after the pregnancy. In addition, (HRQoL) was examined in relation to the mode of delivery.
Methods: A prospective longitudinal study of 416 couples was conducted in two teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The translated Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to measure health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms respectively, and are reported here.
Results: The results showed that women and their spouses experienced a noticeable decline in their physical HRQoL during and after the pregnancy. However, their mental health functioning showed a significant improvement following conception. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was high but decreased over the course of the pregnancy. Finally, HRQoL was affected by mode of delivery.
Conclusions: The results show that women and their husbands experienced marked changes in perceived health-related functioning and depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy. In addition, the study found that those women who had undergone Cesarean section had higher mental well-being scores. Future research should determine the benefits of extending pre-conception and pre-natal guidelines on the benefits of regular physical activity throughout and after pregnancy in Persian couples.

KeywordsDepression; health-related quality of life; post-natal period; pregnancy; pre-conception
Research GroupApplied Health Psychology group
PublisherTaylor and Francis
JournalJournal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology
ISSN0167-482X
Electronic1743-8942
Publication dates
Online06 Jan 2014
Print01 Mar 2014
Publication process dates
Submitted04 Jan 2013
Accepted11 Nov 2013
Deposited27 Jan 2014
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3109/0167482X.2013.865722
LanguageEnglish
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van den Akker, O. 2001. The acceptable face of parenthood: the relative status of biological and cultural interpretations of offspring in infertility treatment. Psychology, Evolution & Gender. 3 (2), pp. 137-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616660110067366
Leisure activities and adolescent sexual behaviour
van den Akker, O. and Lees, S. 2001. Leisure activities and adolescent sexual behaviour. Sex Education. 1 (2), pp. 137-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681810120052560
Adoption in the age of reproductive technology
van den Akker, O. 2001. Adoption in the age of reproductive technology. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 19 (2), pp. 147-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646830125231
A review of family donor constructs: current research and future directions
van den Akker, O. 2006. A review of family donor constructs: current research and future directions. Human Reproduction Update. 12 (2), pp. 91-101. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmi038
Surrogate motherhood: demystifying the controversies
van den Akker, O. 1998. Surrogate motherhood: demystifying the controversies. British Journal of Midwifery. 6 (12), pp. 768-770.
Adolescent sexual behaviour and knowledge
van den Akker, O., Andre, J., Lees, S. and Murphy, T. 1999. Adolescent sexual behaviour and knowledge. British Journal of Midwifery. 7 (12), pp. 765-769.
Psychosocial aspects of surrogate motherhood
van den Akker, O. 2007. Psychosocial aspects of surrogate motherhood. Human Reproduction Update. 13 (1), pp. 53-62. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dml039
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something taboo
van den Akker, O. 1994. Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something taboo. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 12 (3), pp. 179-188. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646839408408884
Psychophysiological responses in women reporting severe premenstrual symptoms
van den Akker, O. and Steptoe, A. 1989. Psychophysiological responses in women reporting severe premenstrual symptoms. Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine. 51 (3), pp. 319-328.
Menstrual cycle symptom reporting in three British ethnic groups
van den Akker, O., Eves, F., Service, S. and Lennon, B. 1995. Menstrual cycle symptom reporting in three British ethnic groups. Social Science & Medicine. 40 (10), pp. 1417-1423. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(94)00265-U
The retrospective diagnosis of postnatal depression by questionnaire
Stein, G. and van den Akker, O. 1992. The retrospective diagnosis of postnatal depression by questionnaire. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 36 (1), pp. 67-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(92)90115-I
Comparison of the overall quality of life in 50 long-term survivors of autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
Molassiotis, A., Boughton, B., Burgoyne, T. and van den Akker, O. 1995. Comparison of the overall quality of life in 50 long-term survivors of autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 22 (3), pp. 509-516. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2648.1995.22030509.x
Symptom distress, coping style and biological variables as predictors of survival after bone marrow transplantation
Molassiotis, A., van den Akker, O., Milligan, D. and Goldman, J. 1997. Symptom distress, coping style and biological variables as predictors of survival after bone marrow transplantation. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 42 (3), pp. 275-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(96)00298-X
Perceived social support, family environment and psychosocial recovery in bone marrow transplant long-term survivors
Molassiotis, A., van den Akker, O. and Boughton, B. 1997. Perceived social support, family environment and psychosocial recovery in bone marrow transplant long-term survivors. Social Science & Medicine. 44 (3), pp. 317-325. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(96)00101-3
The quality of life of renal dialysis patients: trying to find the missing measurement
Killingworth, A. and van den Akker, O. 1996. The quality of life of renal dialysis patients: trying to find the missing measurement. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 33 (1), pp. 107-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7489(95)00040-2
Dysmenorrhoea, mental attitude and GP consultation
Hewison, A. and van den Akker, O. 1996. Dysmenorrhoea, mental attitude and GP consultation. British Journal of Nursing. 5 (8), pp. 480-484.
Service provision for sickle-cell disease: school-based education
Eboh, W. and van den Akker, O. 1996. Service provision for sickle-cell disease: school-based education. British Journal of Nursing. 5 (1), pp. 30-33.
eHealth as a challenge to ‘expert’ power: a focus group study of internet use for health information and management
Donnelly, L., Shaw, R. and van den Akker, O. 2008. eHealth as a challenge to ‘expert’ power: a focus group study of internet use for health information and management. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 101 (10), pp. 501-506. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2008.080156
Developing a Year 9 safe-sun programme: adolescents form a particularly high-risk group, in need of specific skin-protective information and advice
Colley, K. and van den Akker, O. 1998. Developing a Year 9 safe-sun programme: adolescents form a particularly high-risk group, in need of specific skin-protective information and advice. Education and Health. 16 (3), pp. 42-47.
Disclosing donor information: a new code of silence?
Blyth, E., Crawshaw, M. and van den Akker, O. 2009. Disclosing donor information: a new code of silence? BioNews.
Attitudes and intentions towards volunteer oocyte donation
Purewal, S. and van den Akker, O. 2009. Attitudes and intentions towards volunteer oocyte donation. Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 19, pp. 19-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1472-6483(10)60059-4
Systematic review of oocyte donation: investigating attitudes, motivations and experiences
Purewal, S. and van den Akker, O. 2009. Systematic review of oocyte donation: investigating attitudes, motivations and experiences. Human Reproduction Update. 15 (5), pp. 499-515. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmp018
A study of the effect of message framing on oocyte donation
Purewal, S. and van den Akker, O. 2009. A study of the effect of message framing on oocyte donation. Human Reproduction. 24 (12), pp. 3136-3143. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dep342
'I feel like they were mine and I should be looking after them': an exploration of non-patient women's attitudes towards oocyte donation
Purewal, S. and van den Akker, O. 2009. 'I feel like they were mine and I should be looking after them': an exploration of non-patient women's attitudes towards oocyte donation. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 30 (4), pp. 215-222. https://doi.org/10.3109/01674820903348732
Psychological trait and state characteristics, social support and attitudes to the surrogate pregnancy and baby
van den Akker, O. 2007. Psychological trait and state characteristics, social support and attitudes to the surrogate pregnancy and baby. Human Reproduction. 22 (8), pp. 2287-2295. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dem155
The socio-cultural and biological meaning of parenthood
Purewal, S. and van den Akker, O. 2007. The socio-cultural and biological meaning of parenthood. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 28 (2), pp. 79-86. https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820701409918
A longitudinal pre-pregnancy to post-delivery comparison of genetic and gestational surrogate and intended mothers: confidence and genealogy
van den Akker, O. 2005. A longitudinal pre-pregnancy to post-delivery comparison of genetic and gestational surrogate and intended mothers: confidence and genealogy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 26 (4), pp. 277-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/01674820500165745
The importance of a genetic link in mothers commissioning a surrogate baby in the UK
van den Akker, O. 2000. The importance of a genetic link in mothers commissioning a surrogate baby in the UK. Human Reproduction. 15 (8), pp. 1849-1855. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/15.8.1849
Functions and responsibilities of organizations dealing with surrogate motherhood in the UK
van den Akker, O. 1998. Functions and responsibilities of organizations dealing with surrogate motherhood in the UK. Human Fertility. 1 (1), pp. 10-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/1464727982000198031
The pattern and prevalence of symptoms during the menstrual cycle
van den Akker, O. and Steptoe, A. 1985. The pattern and prevalence of symptoms during the menstrual cycle. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 147 (2), pp. 164-169. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.147.2.164