Psychological Well-being across the Perinatal Period: Life Satisfaction and Flourishing in a Longitudinal Study of Black and White American Women

Abstract

Psychological well-being (life satisfaction and flourishing) during the perinatal period has implications for both maternal and child health. However, few studies have investigated the extent to which psychological well-being changes from preconception to postpartum periods, particularly among diverse samples of women. Using prospectively collected data from an ongoing longitudinal study, we investigated changes in two dimensions of psychological well-being from preconception to postpartum among 173 Black and White American women. Results showed that changes in life satisfaction (i.e., global quality of life) and flourishing (e.g., self-acceptance, sense of purpose) over the perinatal period were moderated by race. For life satisfaction, White women reported an increase from preconception to pregnancy with increased life satisfaction levels remaining stable from pregnancy to postpartum. However, Black women reported no changes in life satisfaction across these timepoints. In contrast, both Black and White women reported an increase in flourishing levels across the perinatal period, although the timing of these changes differed. Findings highlight a need for greater clinical and empirical attention to the way in which psychological well-being changes during the perinatal period to optimize health and inform strengths-based intervention targets.

Keywords: Positive Psychology; Pregnancy; Racial Disparities; Well-being.

Figure 1.

Race moderated the change in life satisfaction over the perinatal period. Significant change between time points is indicated by *p<.05 and **p<.01. Standard error bars are SE*1.96.

Figure 2.

Race moderated the change in flourishing over the perinatal period. Significant change between time points is indicated by *p<.05 and **p<.01. Standard error bars are SE*1.96.

Figure 3:

Multiple mediation model from race to life satisfaction change from preconception to pregnancy (Panel 1) and pregnancy to postpartum (Panel b) through pregnancy life stress and everyday discrimination, controlling for preconception life stress and everyday discrimination, and all covariates. T0 = preconception, T1 = pregnancy, T2 = postpartum. Race = 1 for Black American mothers and =0 for White American mothers. *Significant at p<.05, **Significant at p<.01

Figure 4:

Multiple mediation model from race to flourishing change from preconception to pregnancy (Panel 1) and pregnancy to postpartum (Panel b) pregnancy life stress and everyday discrimination, controlling for preconception life stress and everyday discrimination, and all covariates. T0 = preconception, T1 = pregnancy, T2 = postpartum. Race = 1 for Black American mothers and =0 for White American mothers. *Significant at p<.05, **Significant at p<.01.