Autor(es): Brandão, Sónia ; Silva, Rosa ; Abreu, Wilson ; Brandão, Tânia ; Prata, Ana Paula ; Riklikiene, Olga ; Jarasiunaite-Fedosejeva, Gabija ; Mesa, Ernesto González ; İsbir, Gözde Gökçe ; İnci, Figen ; Kömürcü-Akik, Burcu ; Uriko, Kristiina ; Governo, Tatiana ; Thomson, Gill
Data: 2025
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/13538
Origem: Repositório do ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Aim: This study aimed to: (1) explore post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in relation to sociodemographic, obstetric, and childbirth trauma factors; (2) assess the association between perceived stress levels and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms; and (3) analyze how the duration of perceived stress affects post-traumatic stress disorder. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Data were collected via an online survey, including demographic and obstetric information, traumatic childbirth events, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and perceived stress levels and duration in the postpartum period. The study was conducted with 202 women who self-identified as having experienced a traumatic childbirth. Results: Post-traumatic stress disorder scores did not differ significantly by most sociodemographic or obstetric factors, but cesarean delivery was linked to higher post-traumatic stress disorder scores compared to vaginal delivery with forceps or vacuum extraction, mediated by increased perceived stress. Perceived stress levels showed a significant positive association with all post-traumatic stress disorder dimensions. Stress duration significantly was related to total post-traumatic stress disorder scores, with longer stress being associated with greater severity of symptoms. Conclusion: Cesarean delivery and prolonged, elevated stress during childbirth are key risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, highlighting the need for targeted postpartum mental health interventions.
