Longitudinal Analysis of Psychological Well-being in Mothers of Infants in Vulnerable Conditions

Abstract

Introduction: Psychological Well-being (PWB) is directly associated with an individual’s mental health; however, maternal perceptions of their PWB during the initial months of the motherhood experience remain largely unexplored. Objective: To determine the psychological well-being conditions of mothers attending the public health service network in a border region. Materials and Methods: This is a quantitative study with a longitudinal prospective approach, featuring a sample of 140 users of primary care services within the regional public health network. The PGWBI (Psychological General Well-Being Index), in the version previously validated for use in Colombia, was employed to establish PWB. Data collection was conducted at two points during the postnatal stage: at two months and upon completion of the infant’s sixth month of life. Results were consolidated using descriptive statistics, and statistical tests were performed to compare both sets of measurements. Results: The study evaluated 140 mothers, the majority of whom were between 16-25 years old (72.86%), in common-law marriages (52.86%), had completed secondary education (50.72%), and were primarily housewives (77.86%). The global PWB score was predominantly positive in both the first (88.57%) and second (89.29%) measurements. Regarding the instrument's dimensions, anxiety and depression were absent, while positive mood, self-control, general health perception, and vitality were found to be mostly present in both measurements. Conclusion: Mothers demonstrated adequate psychological well-being conditions during their first year of maternal experience, characterized by an absence of anxiety and depression symptoms at the end of the puerperium and the exclusive breastfeeding period