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Review
. 2020 Nov 3:11:563432.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563432. eCollection 2020.

Perinatal Resilience for the First 1,000 Days of Life. Concept Analysis and Delphi Survey

Sarah Van Haeken  1   2 , Marijke A K A Braeken  1   3 , Tinne Nuyts  2 , Erik Franck  4 , Olaf Timmermans  4   5 , Annick Bogaerts  2   4
Affiliations
Review

Perinatal Resilience for the First 1,000 Days of Life. Concept Analysis and Delphi Survey

Sarah Van Haeken et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: The ability to cope with challenges and stress in life is generally understood as resilience. Pregnancy and parenthood are challenging times. The concept of resilience is receiving increasing interest from researchers, clinicians, and policy staff because of its potential impact on health, well-being, and quality of life. Nevertheless, the concept is less studied during the perinatal period.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to understand the concept of perinatal resilience, including the underlying processes and more specifically for the first 1,000 days of life.

Methods: A concept analysis according to the Walker and Avant (2011) framework was used, to investigate the basic elements of the concept. Concurrently, a two-round Delphi survey involving researchers, clinicians, epidemiologists, mothers, and fathers (N = 21), was conducted to prioritize the terms associated with perinatal resilience. Data collection took place between January and April 2019.

Results: Through concept analysis and Delphi survey, five defining attributes for perinatal resilience were identified: social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, sense of mastery and personality. The additional terms, rated important by the Delphi survey, were linked to the consequences of being resilient during the perinatal period for the individual and his/her family. Specifically, highlighted were the experiences of families in personal growth and achieving family balance, adaptation, or acceptance.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the concept analysis and Delphi survey, we describe perinatal resilience for the first 1,000 days as a circular process towards a greater well-being in the form of personal growth, family balance, adaptation or acceptance, when faced with stressors, challenges or adversity during the perinatal period. The presence of resiliency attributes such as social support, sense of mastery, self-efficacy, and self-esteem enhance the capacity to be resilient and probably prevent mental health problems.

Keywords: childbirth; parenthood; perinatal care; perinatal mental health; resilience (psychological).

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of article selection.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
(A) Sum scores of resiliency attributes based on a concept analysis. (B) Sum scores of personality traits linked to perinatal resilience based on a concept analysis.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Perinatal resilience for the first 1,000 days of life.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
The results of round 1 and 2 of the Delphi survey.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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