Análisis de la calidad de vida y apoyo social auto percibido durante la gestación

  1. Martín Vázquez, Cristian
Supervised by:
  1. Cristina Liébana Presa Director
  2. José David Urchaga Litago Director

Defence university: Universidad de León

Fecha de defensa: 25 October 2024

Committee:
  1. Maria de Fátima Silva Vieira Martins Chair
  2. Elena Andina Díaz Secretary
  3. Francisco Martín Rodríguez Committee member

Type: Thesis

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Quality of life is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being that goes beyond the mere absence of disease, integrating aspects such as mental health, emotional well-being, and social relationships. Social support, on the other hand, refers to the resources available in the interpersonal network, perceived as accessible and useful, and can include emotional, instrumental, and affective support. Both quality of life and social support are essential factors influencing overall health during pregnancy due to the multiple physiological and emotional changes women experience. The study's justification highlights the relevance of maternal health and the impact of social support on improving the well-being of pregnant women. The research addresses a need to obtain relevant and unknown information about quality of life and social support during pregnancy. The general objective of the present research was to analyze self-perceived quality of life and social support during pregnancy and to examine their relationship with other sociodemographic and obstetric-gynecological factors. Three specific studies were conducted. In Study I, a cross-sectional analysis of quality of life in the first trimester was carried out. In Study II, a longitudinal analysis of self-perceived quality of life and social support was conducted. Finally, in Study III, a psychometric analysis of the Short Form 36 Health Survey was performed. Participants were selected through non-probabilistic and convenience sampling, selecting participants among women asending prenatal health services at Hospital del Bierzo. A total of 359 pregnant women were interviewed. The variables of interest were collected online using the Short Form 36 Health Survey and the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey. All studies were conducted with the necessary ethical considerations. The results of these studies revealed that the quality of life scores of pregnant women were below the population average. It was found that selfperceived social support has a positive correlation with quality of life. Additionally, significant differences in quality of life were identified according to variables such as parity, educational level, or marital status. Regarding the risk of depression, it always remained above 20%, with the first trimester being the period of greatest vulnerability. On the other hand, analyses confirmed the factorial structure of the questionnaire and its reliability, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients above 0.80 in all subscales. This analysis developed the SF-34 PREG, an adapted version of the SF-36, which demonstrated high reliability and a robust factorial structure, making it a more precise and relevant tool for assessing health-related quality of life during pregnancy. In conclusion, it can be stated that health-related quality of life during pregnancy is below the population average and undergoes changes throughout the pregnancy. Additionally, factors such as being a first-time mother, not having a history of cesarean section or previous abortions, being Spanish, having secondary or university education, achieving pregnancy spontaneously, or having social support are associated with a beser quality of life during pregnancy. Furthermore, this study developed and validated the SF-34 PREG, making it a more precise and relevant tool for assessing health-related quality of life during pregnancy. The SF-34 PREG offers greater relevance and accuracy for this specific population.