Negative childhood experience as a predictor of affective disorders in women in late pregnancy

Introduction. The study of affective disorders in pregnant women is of particular relevance in the context of Russia’s demographic policy. This article aims to identify and analyse predictors of affective disorders in women during the later stages of pregnancy. Materials and Methods. The article presents empirical findings from a study involving women in late pregnancy. The research methods included the Young Schema Questionnaire — Short Form 3 Revised (YSQ-S3R) — by Jeffrey Young for the assessment of early maladaptive schemas, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test and regression analysis in IBM SPSS Statistics v.27.0. Results. Women who are not legally married are more likely to exhibit affective disorders in the form of anxiety symptoms. Women under the age of 25 are characterized by a feeling of abandonment, isolation, undeveloped identity, pessimism and pickiness. Pregnancy, as a crisis event, tends to activate early maladaptive schemas that were formed prior to the current life situation. Negative childhood experiences involving frustration of basic needs — such as acceptance, empathy, approval and respect — and the lack of emotional support contribute to the development of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural patterns that serve as predictors of anxiety symptoms in women in late pregnancy. Conclusions. The findings of this study offer new perspectives for enhancing psychological support services for women in late stages of pregnancy.