The analysis of psycho-social and cultural factors during pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. From the woman’s psychological disease to the subjective and psychological well-being

Being pregnant and becoming a mother is a challenging transition for women that may be stressful as well as generating an experience of personal growth. Several studies have been undertaken primarily to understand the negative aspects and consequences of the transition to motherhood, but researchers have gradually extended the focus of their analysis to the perinatal well-being concept as a subject for more in depth investigation. However, evidence regarding the positive dimensions of women’s psychological health during the transition to motherhood is still lacking. The overall purpose of this doctoral thesis was to realize an analysis of psycho-social and cultural factors able to affect women’s psychological health during pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood, including both the perspective of psychological disease and that of well-being, with a view to understanding the relationships between positive and negative aspects of women’s perinatal psychological health, and between psychological health and psycho-social aspects. Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the present thesis highlighted how in the study of women’s perinatal psychological health it is important to also focus: on well-being as conceptualized within the positive psychology perspective; on the psycho-social and individual aspects which can promote a good adaptation by the woman to the transition to maternity. This work suggests for intervention programs to promote well-being for pregnant women including paths of reflection on: relations between well-being and ill-being dimensions; the quality of the couple relationship as promotion factor of well-being; the emotional complexity of pregnancy and the role of bodily changes, pursing goals and personal skills for being and feeling well; the dimensions of control in childbirth. Limits and possible future developments were discussed.