Prenatal Coping Patterns Mediate The Effect of Uncertainty and Perceived Social Support on The Psychological Well-Being of High-Risk Pregnant Women

Background: High risk pregnancy can introduce additional psychological stress on the
pregnant women. Also, poor coping skills during pregnancy are associated with negative outcomes.
The effects of perceived social support and uncertainty on the psychological well-being of high
risk pregnant women can be mediated by their prenatal coping patterns. Aim: This study aimed to
assess the mediating effects of prenatal coping patterns of the perceived social support, and
uncertainty on the psychological well-being of high-risk pregnant women. Design: A cross
sectional, correlational study design was utilized on 162 high-risk pregnant women according to
certain inclusion criteria and who were attending outpatient clinic in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. Tools of data collection: The data was
collected using an interview questionnaire that included five sections as the following: 1) patient's
demographic characteristics and obstetric history 2) The Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale; 3) The
Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey; 4) The Prenatal Coping Inventory; 5) and
The Psychological General Well-Being Index. Results: data and path analysis revealed that,
planning/preparation for motherhood negatively mediated the effect of uncertainty on
psychological wellbeing of high-risk pregnant women; planning/preparation for motherhood
mediated the effect of perceived social support on psychological wellbeing of them; and perceived
social support had direct effect on psychological wellbeing of the studied subject. Regarding the
psychological well-being, perceived social support, uncertainty, and prenatal coping pattern of the
studied high-risk pregnant women, less than half of them had moderate psychological distress, less
than two third of them had high perceived social support, more than two third of them reported low
level of uncertainty, the majority of them reported less use of avoidance, less than two third of them
reported less use of spiritual coping, whereas more than three quarters of them reported frequent
use of planning/preparation for motherhood. Conclusion: The study concluded that prenatal coping
patterns (problem focused coping) mediated the effects of uncertainty and perceived social support
on the psychological well-being of the studied high-risk pregnant women. Recommendation:
Incorporating psychosocial assessment in routine prenatal screening for women experiencing
medically complex pregnancies with continuous and routine screening for depression and anxiety