An assessment of life change, vulnerability & resilience
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An assessment of life change, vulnerability & resilience in a perinatal sample of women and their partners
IRAS ID
216884
Contact name
Antonia Bifulco
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Middlesex University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Severe life events and long term problems are consistently associated with the onset and relapse of common psychological disorders (e.g. depression) including perinatal depression. Exposure to life stress is typically assessed using two broad methods: brief checklist life events scales, which create methodological problems (because they are too brief, too subjective, and lacking in context and timing information) and intensive interview methods, which are superior in providing much richer information but are time consuming, complex and costly, restricting their use. A new approach using the latest technology (a dedicated online site) is proposed which can take the best of both approaches in researching the effects of stress to understand the biopscyhosocial forces at work in a perinatal sample.\n\nIn this study we will utilise a newly designed and tested life stress measure (Computerised Life Event Assessment Record, CLEAR) which will mimic characteristics of the face to face interview the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS) but which will be administered remotely. We will use CLEAR to evaluate the baseline characteristics of a sample of perinatal women and their partners to understand more about the presence of life stress and physical and emotional disorder. \n\nThe target participant group is a sample of woman under the care of the maternity team in the county of Derry in Northern Ireland. This is part of a wider national primary prevention pilot which aims to identify risk/resilience in this group and to plan future interventions to prevent future problem child interaction where risk is identified.\n\nMaternity healthcare practitioners will recruit the sample by handing out information. Participants will be given individualised log in to complete the measure remotely and confidentially. Feedback will be provided automatically to participants. Healthcare practitioners will also have access to feedback and cases evidencing high risk will be linked in to support services.\n
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SW/0194
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion