A Study to Assess the Relationship Between Maternal Stress and Postnatal Psychological Outcomes Among Mothers Admitted in Selected Hospitals in Aluva

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the association between maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes among antenatal and postnatal mothers admitted in a selected hospital at Aluva. The study aimed to identify the level of maternal stress during pregnancy and its effect on psychological well-being following delivery. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of maternal stress among mothers admitted to the hospital for delivery, assess the level of postnatal psychological outcome of mothers who underwent delivery, determine the relationship between maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes in mothers, and find the association between maternal stress score and selected demographic variables of mothers. A quantitative descriptive correlational research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted among mothers. Admitted to Carmel Hospital, Aluva. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 60 samples. The study was conducted after obtaining ethical clearance from the concerned authorities. Ethical principles were strictly followed throughout the study, ensuring respect for human dignity, confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation of the respondents. The purpose of data collection was to obtain relevant information to assess maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes. The data collected were systematically organized, tabulated, and analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Statistical analysis was carried out to summarize the data and to examine relationships between study variables based on standard statistical values. The findings of the study revealed that most of the antenatal mothers had a moderate level of maternal stress, while a few mothers experienced mild or severe stress. Most of the postnatal mothers had mild to moderate psychological distress, whereas only a few mothers experienced severe psychological problems. The correlation coefficient (r) value of 0.837 indicates a strong positive relationship between maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes, showing that as maternal stress increases, postnatal psychological well-being decreases thus, the study concluded that maternal stress during pregnancy has a considerable influence on the psychological well-being of mothers during the postnatal period.