Titre du document / Document title

The effects of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder on women and their relationships : A qualitative study

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

AYERS Susan ⁽¹⁾ ; EAGLE Andrew ⁽²⁾ ; WARING Helen ⁽³⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, Sussex BN1 9QH, ROYAUME-UNI
⁽²⁾ Adult Psychology Department, St Charles Hospital, London W10 6BS, ROYAUME-UNI
⁽³⁾ St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 OQT, ROYAUME-UNI

Résumé / Abstract

There is converging evidence that 1%-2% of women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of childbirth. The current study aimed to explore the long-term effects of childbirth-related PTSD on women, their relationship with their partner and their relationship with their child. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six women who reported clinically significant PTSD after birth, ranging from 7 months to 18 years beforehand. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Childbirth-related PTSD was found to have wide-ranging effects on women and their relationships. Women reported changes in physical well-being, mood and behaviour, social interaction, and fear of childbirth. Women reported negative effects on their relationship with their partner, including sexual dysfunction, disagreements and blame for events of birth. The mother-baby bond was also seriously affected. Nearly all women reported initial feelings of rejection towards the baby but this changed over time. Long-term, women seemed to have either avoidant or anxious attachments with their child. It is concluded that childbirth-related PTSD can have severe and lasting effects on women and their relationships with their partner and children. Further research is needed to compare this to normal difficulties experienced by women after having children.

Revue / Journal Title

Psychology, health & medicine   ISSN 1354-8506 

Source / Source

2006, vol. 11, n^o4, pp. 389-398 [10 page(s) (article)] (26 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Taylor & Francis, Abingdon, ROYAUME-UNI  (1996) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Social interaction ; Anxiety disorder ; Human ; Posttraumatic stress disorder ; Adult ; Young adult ; Female ; Mother child relation ; Marital relation ; Long term ; Psychological effect ; Postnatal ; Maternal diseases ; Delivery ; Qualitative analysis ; Stress ; Posttraumatic syndrome ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Interaction sociale ; Trouble anxieux ; Homme ; Etat de stress posttraumatique ; Adulte ; Adulte jeune ; Femelle ; Relation mère enfant ; Relation conjugale ; Long terme ; Effet psychologique ; Postnatal ; Mère pathologie ; Accouchement ; Analyse qualitative ; Stress ; Posttraumatisme syndrome ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Interacción social ; Trastorno ansiedad ; Hombre ; Trastorno de estrés posttraumático ; Adulto ; Adulto joven ; Hembra ; Relación madre niño ; Relación conyugal ; Largo plazo ; Efecto psicológico ; Postnatal ; Madre patología ; Parto ; Análisis cualitativo ; Estrés ; Posttraumatismo síndrome ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 26456, 35400013930053.0010