Abstract
This study is aimed at understanding the psychosocial aspects of women during pregnancy and for two years after parturition, and also seeking for ways to support them. This report focuses on women in the postpartum period to discuss their physical and psychosocial aspects, as well as the factors behind them. The survey was conducted from late February to early May of 2000, on 689 postpartum women in hospitals out of 795 in Sapporo and the other areas of Hokkaido. Questionnaires were distributed to those mothers, and were returned on a voluntary basis. The questions included 29-items of the Maternal Concerns Questionnaire (MCQ), 10-items of Self Esteem (SE), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The findings were as follows: 1) There was nositive correlation between MCQ and EPDS (0.445). and negative correlation between MCQ and ES (-0.405). 2) The topics that showed high levels MCQ were IV The support by their partner, V The Body Image and, VII The anxiety for the baby. 3) They were supported by their own mothers the most, followed by their partners. Those who were supported by their partner and by many persons showed high levels of SE. 4) Those who had the non-planned pregnancy showed high levels of EPDS and MCQ, and low levels of SE.
