Korean J Women Health Nurs KJWHN Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 1225-9543 Korean Academy of Women's Health Nursing 10.4069/kjwhn.2010.16.3.234 Original Article Stress and Coping Style of High-risk Pregnant Women's Spouses Lee Juyoung 1 Choi Euysoon 2 Research Assistant, College of Nursing, Catholic University, Korea. Professor, College of Nursing, Catholic University, Korea. Address reprint requests to: Choi, Euysoon, College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2258-7401, Fax: 82-2-2258-7772, eschoi@catholic.ac.kr 09 2010 30 09 2010 16 3 234 244 15 04 2010 07 08 2010 Copyright © 2010 Korean Academy of Women's Health Nursing 2010 Purpose

This study determined the level of stress and type of coping style of spouses with high-risk pregnant women.

 Methods

Subjects were 102 spouses with high-risk pregnant women at 6 hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi province from January to August, 2009. The tools for this study were stress scale and coping scale. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient.

 Results

The average score of subjects stress was 2.18 and coping score was 2.46 point out of 4.00. The highest score of stress categories was 2.44 point in emotional problems and the lowest score was 1.72 in communication and support resources. The stress level was significant differences according to length of marriage, number of hospital visits, satisfaction with marriage relationship, hospitalization days and gestational age respectively. Spouses tended to use an active coping style (2.60) rather than a passive coping style (2.31). There were significant differences according to mother's age and gestational age in active coping and educational level in passive coping.

 Conclusion

Considering the level of stress coping style and characteristics of high-risk pregnant women's spouses, a nursing intervention should be provided to help them alleviate stress and to encourage active coping.

 High-risk pregnancy Spouses Psychological stress

- This article is a master's thesis from the Catholic University of Korea.

- IRB number: CUMC08U070.

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General Characteristics of the Spouses with High Risk Pregnant Women and High-risk Conditions(N=102)

Perceived Stress Scores of the Spouses with High-risk Pregnant Women(N=102)

Coping Styles of Spouses with High-risk Pregnant Women

Stress and Coping Styles according to General Characteristics of the Spouses and High Risk Conditions(N=102)

a, b, c, d: Scheffe's test.