Negative/Positive Emotions, Perceived Self-Efficacy and Transition to Motherhood during Pregnancy: A Monitoring Study

Abstract

Background: Several studies have investigated the topic of emotion regulation and self-perception in women during pregnancy, which turns out to be a critical event for the woman approaching psycho-physical changes. The objectives of the study were the evaluation and monitoring, during pregnancy, of emotional states and levels of self-efficacy and the analysis of the representations of self and the child. Methods: Twenty women (M = 34.60; SD = 4.60) in the 28-week gestation period participated in the research. We performed three administrations (T0-1-2) of an ad hoc questionnaire containing: personal data; Maternal Representations in Pregnancy Interview—IRMAG; Multidimensional Emotion Questionnaire—MEQ; Perceived Self-Efficacy in Complex Situations Scale. Results: Both qualitative and quantitative analyses show that the future mother’s strategies and functional resources focus on perceiving herself as effective in the acquired role, despite the pregnancy itself being a highly stressful critical event. Positive emotions tend to increase, just as the frequency, intensity, persistence and regulation of emotion undergo a linear and constant increase with respect to the first and second administration. Conclusions: Qualitative research has produced significant results with regard to the representations of mothers-to-be as they attempt to cope with states of change during pregnancy with their own personal adaptive resources.