Quality of life and wellbeing in pregnant women and new mothers V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quality of life and mental wellbeing in pregnant women and new mothers in Portsmouth: the effect of poverty.
IRAS ID
181157
Contact name
Louise Baxter
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
15/SC/0008, Portsmouth Birth Cohort Registry
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
What are the levels of wellbeing and quality of life in pregnant women and new mothers, and how are these affected by poverty?
A large body of evidence suggests that the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers is important for their and their babies’ health in the long term, and that this, along with wellbeing and quality of life, can be affected by social inequality, such as having less money than others.
This study will investigate the levels of antenatal and postnatal depression and wellbeing in pregnant women and mothers in the Portsmouth area. Women who agree to take part will be asked to answer questions on wellbeing, quality of life, the amount of social support they receive, and the things they go without because they cannot afford them. The answers they give will be used to explore whether there is any difference in levels of depression, wellbeing or quality of life in pregnant women or new mothers according to whether they are living in poverty or not. Their answers will also help the researcher to understand if there is a connection between poverty and good or poor mental health at this time.
The women who agree to take part will be asked to complete a questionnaire when they are pregnant. Some will also complete questionnaires after they have had their babies. There will also be a secure on-line forum, where questions on what it is like to be a mother will be posted, and they can leave longer answers. It is hoped these answers will help to paint a broader picture, when combined with the answers from the questionnaires.
The study is being undertaken for Doctoral research, and is funded by the Faculty of Science at the University of Portsmouth.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1629
Date of REC Opinion
16 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion