Sense of coherence (SOC) and styles of coping with stress in women after premature delivery.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the psychological condition of women after premature delivery, especially 1) the types of problems and negative emotional reactions associated with premature delivery, 2) ways of coping with difficult situation associated with premature delivery, and 3) the relationship between a sense of coherence and applied strategies for coping.

Material/methods: The study was conducted on 33 women after premature delivery (study group) and 102 women after full-term delivery (control group) hospitalized at the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin.

Results: The study revealed that the mothers of premature infants experienced different problems and more negative emotions than mothers of full-term infants. There were substantial differences in strategies for coping with stress applied by both groups. Women who had had premature deliveries applied emotional strategies more often than task-oriented strategies and strategies aimed at avoidance. There was a relationship between sense of coherence and its components and the emotional strategies for coping in both groups.

Conclusions: Psychological care given to women after a premature delivery should be concentrated much more on recognizing and reinforcing mechanisms stimulating adaptation to the difficult situation which poses a threat to infant's health. The important aspects of such care are actions which reinforce the parents' sense of competence in childcare, acquiescence to parents' participation in taking decisions, and full and communicative information about the infant's health.