SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Atlas Journal of Medicine / 2026 / Cilt: 6 Sayı: 3

Depression and quality of life in mothers: psychosocial consequences of preterm birth

Annelerde depresyon ve yaşam kalitesi: erken doğumun psikososyal sonuçları

Zeynep Gün(USKUDAR UNIVERSITY)0009-0006-2564-6600
Fatma Demir(USKUDAR UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-5178-2071
A. Aktuğ Ertekin(USKUDAR UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-2401-6616
Pages
171–180
Publication Date
2026-10-28
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings emphasize the importance of providing comprehensive postpartum support for mothers following preterm birth.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: To compare postpartum quality of life and postpartum depression between mothers with preterm and full-term births and to investigate whether preterm birth is associated with differences in maternal well-being during the postpartum period.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Materials and methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included 64 mothers (32 full-term and 32 preterm).
💡
Conclusion & Impact:These findings emphasize the importance of providing comprehensive postpartum support for mothers following preterm birth.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:erken doğum · doğum sonrası depresyon · yaşam kalitesi

Abstract

Aim: To compare postpartum quality of life and postpartum depression between mothers with preterm and full-term births and to investigate whether preterm birth is associated with differences in maternal well-being during the postpartum period. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional comparative study included 64 mothers (32 full-term and 32 preterm). Postpartum quality of life was assessed using the Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life Questionnaire (MPQOL-I), and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics were also recorded. Results: The groups were similar regarding maternal age, education, employment status, and mode of conception (all p > 0.05). Mothers in the preterm birth group had lower gestational age, longer NICU stay, and a higher rate of cesarean delivery (all p < 0.01). Compared with mothers who delivered at term, mothers with preterm births had significantly lower scores in the socioeconomic, relational/husband-partner, health and functioning, and psychological domains of the MPQOL-I (all p < 0.01), while no difference was observed in the relational/family-friends domain (p = 0.953). EPDS scores were significantly higher in the preterm birth group (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Mothers who experienced preterm birth had poorer postpartum quality of life in several domains and higher postpartum depression scores than mothers with full-term births. These findings emphasize the importance of providing comprehensive postpartum support for mothers following preterm birth.

Özet

Amaç: Erken doğan ve tam süreli doğum yapan anneler arasında doğum sonrası yaşam kalitesini ve doğum sonrası depresyonu karşılaştırmak ve erken doğumun doğum sonrası dönemde annenin refahındaki farklılıklarla ilişkili olup olmadığını araştırmak. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu kesitsel karşılaştırmalı çalışmaya 64 anne (32'si tam süreli, 32'si prematüre doğum yapmış) dahil edildi. Doğum sonrası yaşam kalitesi, Doğum Sonu Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği (DSYKÖ) kullanılarak değerlendirildi; depresif belirtiler ise Edinburgh Doğum Sonrası Depresyon Ölçeği (EPDÖ) kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Sosyodemografik ve obstetrik özellikler de kaydedildi. Bulgular: Gruplar, anne yaşı, eğitim düzeyi, istihdam durumu ve gebe kalma şekli açısından benzerdi (hepsi p > 0,05). Erken doğum grubundaki annelerin gebelik yaşı daha düşüktü, YBÜ’de kalış süreleri daha uzundu ve sezaryen doğum oranı daha yüksekti (hepsi p < 0,01). Tam zamanında doğum yapan annelerle karşılaştırıldığında, erken doğum yapan anneler DSYKÖ’nün sosyoekonomik, ilişkisel/eş-partner, sağlık ve işlevsellik ile psikolojik alanlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede daha düşük puanlar alırken (tümü p < 0,01), ilişkisel/aile-arkadaşlar alanında herhangi bir fark gözlenmemiştir (p = 0,953). EPDÖ puanları, erken doğum grubunda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede daha yüksekti (p < 0,01). Sonuç: Erken doğum yaşayan anneler, tam süreli doğum yapan annelere kıyasla çeşitli alanlarda daha düşük doğum sonrası yaşam kalitesine ve daha yüksek doğum sonrası depresyon puanlarına sahipti. Bu bulgular, erken doğum geçiren annelere kapsamlı bir doğum sonrası destek sağlanmasının önemini vurgulamaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Gün, Z., Demir, F., Ertekin, A. A. (2026). Depression and quality of life in mothers: psychosocial consequences of preterm birth. Atlas Journal of Medicine, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 3, 171–180. https://doi.org/10.54270/atljm.2026.133

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (32)

  1. Babetin K. The birth of a mother: a psychological transformation. J Prenat Perinat Psychol Health. 2020;34(5):410-28.
  2. Eutrope J, Thierry A, Lempp F, Aupetit L, Saad S, Dodane C, et al. Emotional reactions of mothers facing premature births: study of 100 mother-infant dyads 32 gestational weeks. PloS one. 2014;9(8):e104093.
  3. Horton AM, Hebson G, Holman D. A qualitative study on patients’ use of emotion regulation strategies during therapeutic relationships. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2023;86(1):53-61.
  4. Lee SJ, Nho J-H, Lee EJ, Lee DH. Factors Influencing Quality of Life in Pregnant Women With Preterm Labor. Journal of The Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health. 2025;29(2):87-96.
  5. de Paula Eduardo JAF, de Rezende MG, Menezes PR, Del-Ben CM. Preterm birth as a risk factor for postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of affective disorders. 2019;259:392-403.
  6. Kim S. World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL) assessment. Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research: Springer; 2024. p. 7866-7.
  7. Hill PD, Aldag JC. Maternal perceived quality of life following childbirth. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing. 2007;36(4):328-34.
  8. Mautner E, Stern C, Avian A, Deutsch M, Schöll W, Greimel E. Neonates in the intensive care unit: maternal health-related quality of life and depression after term and preterm births. Frontiers in pediatrics. 2022;9:684576.
  9. Hill PD, Aldag JC, Hekel B, Riner G, Bloomfield P. Maternal postpartum quality of life questionnaire. Journal of Nursing Measurement. 2006;14(3):205-20.
  10. Altuntuğ K, Ege E. Doğum sonu yaşam kalitesi ölçeği’nin türkçe uyarlamasinin geçerlik ve güvenirliği. Anadolu Hemşirelik ve Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2012;15(3):214-22.
  11. Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The British journal of psychiatry. 1987;150(6):782-6.
  12. Engindeniz A, Kuey L, Kultur S. Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale Turkish version validity and reliability study. Bahar Sempozyumları, Psikiyatri Derneǧi Yayınları, Ankara. 1996;1:51-2.
  13. McHale P, Fahy K, Pennington A, Schlüter DK, Barr B, Taylor-Robinson D. How do socioeconomic inequalities and preterm birth interact to modify health and education outcomes? A narrative systematic review. BMJ open. 2025;15(1):e084147.
  14. Cooke A, Nasiri N, Jayakumar SA, Rangrej SB. A systematic review of the effect of socioeconomic status on the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD). International Journal of Psychology. 2025;60(4):e70063.
  15. Szurek-Cabanas R, Navarro-Carrillo G, Martínez-Sánchez CA, Oyanedel JC, Villalobos D. Socioeconomic status and maternal postpartum depression: a PRISMA-compliant systematic review. Current Psychology. 2024;43(33):27339-50.
  16. Adane H, Iles R, Boyle J, Gelaw A, Collie A. Effects of psychosocial work factors on preterm birth: systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health. 2024;228:65-72.
  17. Rihm L, Waibel J, Karl M, Mack JT, Weise V, Garthus-Niegel S. Prepartum working conditions predict mental health symptoms 14 months postpartum in first-time mothers and their partners–results of the prospective cohort study “DREAM”. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1):875.
  18. Ning J, Deng J, Li S, Lu C, Zeng P. Meta-analysis of association between caesarean section and postpartum depression risk. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2024;15:1361604.
  19. Kalengo NH, Sanga LA, Philemon RN, Obure J, Mahande MJ. Recurrence rate of preterm birth and associated factors among women who delivered at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Northern Tanzania: A registry based cohort study. PLoS One. 2020;15(9):e0239037.
  20. Nillni YI, Schildroth S, Yland JJ, Brown HL, Wesselink AK, Wise LA. Association between adverse perinatal events and postpartum depressive symptoms in a North American prospective preconception cohort study. Journal of affective disorders. 2025;375:525-32.
  21. Pace CC, Spittle AJ, Molesworth CM-L, Lee KJ, Northam EA, Cheong JL, et al. Evolution of depression and anxiety symptoms in parents of very preterm infants during the newborn period. JAMA pediatrics. 2016;170(9):863-70.
  22. Kmita G, Kiepura E, Niedźwiecka A. Maternal mood and perception of infant temperament at three months predict depressive symptoms scores in mothers of preterm infants at six months. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022;13:812893.
  23. Sandnes R, Le Floch M, Riquin E, Nocus I, Mueller JB, Bacro F. Parental stress and mental health outcomes following very preterm birth: A systematic review of recent findings. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2024;355:513-25.
  24. Moura M, Araújo C, Prado M, Paro H, Pinto R, Abdallah V, et al. Factors associated with the quality of life of mothers of preterm infants with very low birth weight: a 3-year follow-up study. Quality of Life Research. 2017;26(5):1349-60.
  25. Valla L, Helseth S, Småstuen MC, Misvær N, Andenæs R. Factors associated with maternal overall quality of life six months postpartum: a cross sectional study from The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2022;22(1):4.
  26. Jones L, Mariapun J, Tan AXQ, Kassim Z, Su TT. Maternal wellbeing of Malaysian mothers after the birth of a preterm infant. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2023;23(1):510.
  27. Ong SL, Soh KL, Hussin EOD, Japar S, Soh KG, Vorasiha P, et al. Quality of life among mothers of preterm newborns in a Malaysian neonatal intensive care unit. Belitung Nursing Journal. 2022;8(2):93.
  28. Al Rehaili BO, Al-Raddadi R, ALEnezi NK, ALYami AH. Postpartum quality of life and associated factors: a cross-sectional study. Quality of Life Research. 2023;32(7):2099-106.
  29. Papamarkou M, Sarafis P, Kaite CP, Malliarou M, Tsounis A, Niakas D. Investigation of the association between quality of life and depressive symptoms during postpartum period: a correlational study. BMC women's health. 2017;17(1):115.
  30. Baker H, Cuomo B, Femia C, Lin D, Stobbie C, McLean B, et al. Occupational therapy in maternal health: Exploring the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning as a potential tool. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. 2024;71(2):279-90.
  31. Rubio-Grillo MH. Performance of an occupational therapist in a neonatal intensive care unit. Colombia Medica. 2019;50(1):30-9.
  32. Jaywant SS, Patil SS, Shrivastav DS. To analyze the effect of person-environment-occupation intervention model on stress and breast-feeding efficacy on mothers of preterm neonates: A randomized controlled study. The Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2020;52(1):24-9.