Influência da religiosidade e espiritualidade na saúde mental e qualidade de vida em mulheres gestantes em fase inicial da gestação

Abstract

Introduction: Women have used prayer and spiritual practices to help cope with health issues for millennia. However, studies addressing religiosity and spirituality of pregnant women are scarce. Objectives: To assess how religious and spiritual beliefs can influence the depressive, anxious and stress symptoms and quality of life of Brazilian women in early pregnancy. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in Brazilian pregnant women between November 2016 and November 2018. Sociodemographic data, obstetrics data, social support, religiosity/spirituality (Duke Religion Index, Daily Spiritual Experiences, Brief RCOPE), mental health (DASS-21) and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) were assessed. Analyses were carried out using hierarchical linear regression models. Results: A total of 160 pregnant women were included, with a mean age of 26 years (SD: 5.71) years and gestational age of 10.5 (SD: 3.27) weeks. Mean religiosity and spirituality of the pregnant women was high and the use of positive coping was greater than that of negative coping. Negative religious/spiritual coping was associated with high levels of stress, depressive and anxious symptoms (Betas 0.207-0.321) and worse physical quality of life (Beta -0.235). However, psychological quality of life was associated with multiple dimensions, including intrinsic religiosity, positive and negative coping, and spirituality (Betas 0.186-0.318). Finally, social quality of life was associated only with spirituality (Beta=0.169). Conclusion: Negative coping, but not positive coping, was associated with worse mental health and physical quality of life in women at the first trimester of pregnancy. Other measures of religiosity and spirituality were associated with psychological and social quality of life. Health professionals, obstetricians and nurses who work with pregnant women should be alert to the use of negative coping strategies in their patients.