Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Psychology
Date of Award
12-2023
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Julia C. Dodd
Committee Members
Aubrey R. Dueweke, Stacey L. Williams
Abstract
Obstetric violence includes acts of abuse, coercion, or disrespect that occur during the labor process. The present study explores how obstetric violence impacts a person’s postpartum psychosocial adjustment. This study used a subset of data (N = 339) from a larger online study, which attempted to explore multiple facets of a person’s postpartum health. The psychological constructs examined are postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. Additional constructs assessed were protective and risk factors: self-compassion and medical mistrust. Self-compassion and medical mistrust were examined by using moderation models. Additional analyses were completed using simple regression models to explore whether obstetric violence predicts either postpartum anxiety or postpartum depression. Results yielded non-significant moderations for all constructs; however, obstetric violence predicted both postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. This study was the first to examine how self-compassion and medical mistrust relate to the onset of postpartum anxiety and depression following an experience of obstetric violence.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
O'Neill, Hope, "Obstetric Violence and Postpartum Adjustment: Exploration of Risk and Resilience Factors" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4300. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4300
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.