Author(s):
Abreu, Wilson ; Brandão, Sónia ; Brandão, Tânia ; Prata, Ana Paula ; Silva, Rosa ; Riklikiene, Olga ; Jarasiunaite-Fedosejeva, Gabija ; Mesa, Ernesto S. González ; İsbir, Gözde Gökçe ; Inci, Figen ; Akik, Burku Komurcu ; Uriko, Kristiina ; Governo, Tatiana ; Thompson, Gill
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/13624
Origin: Repositório do ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Subject(s): Traumatic birth; posttraumatic stress symptoms; rumination; post-traumatic growth; women’s health
Description
Background: Rumination can either prolong distress or foster growth following traumatic experiences like childbirth. This study investigates the association between post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth in women who underwent traumatic childbirth, examining the potential mediating role of two types of rumination – intrusive and deliberate. Methods: A cross-sectional study in Northern Portugal from January 2020 to December 2021 surveyed 202 women with infants under 12 months, self-reporting traumatic childbirth experiences. Instruments included the City Birth Trauma Scale, Event-Related Rumination Inventory, and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory. Results: Women experienced various childbirth-related traumatic events, with most showing post-traumatic stress symptoms for over three months. Approximately 60% met post-traumatic stress disorder criteria. The results indicate that post-traumatic stress symptoms were positively correlated with post-traumatic growth, and both showed positive associations with intrusive rumination and deliberate rumination. Mediation analysis revealed deliberate rumination significantly
