Ana Fonseca|Bárbara Nazaré|Maria Cristina Canavarro
Parental psychological distress and quality of life after a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of congenital anomaly: A controlled comparison study with parents of healthy infants
University of Coimbra|University of Coimbra|University of Coimbra
parental early adjustment prenatal postnatal diagnosis congenital anomaly studied mainly within pathological deterministic perspective giving us inadequate view impact diagnosis adopting comprehensive approach parental adjustment aimed characterise impact diagnosis psychological distress quality life early postdiagnosis stage effects gender timing diagnosis also examined crosssectional study 42 couples healthy infants 42 couples whose infants prenatal postnatally diagnosed congenital anomaly responded brief symptom inventory18 world health organization quality lifebrief instrument early postdiagnosis stage parents whose infants diagnosed congenital anomaly presented higher levels psychological distress parents healthy infants f279 623 p 003 although displayed similar levels quality life f478 062 p 647 mothers reported adjustment difficulties fathers groups receiving diagnosis prenatal period associated higher maternal psychological quality life z 200 p 045 occurrence diagnosis congenital anomaly transition parenthood adds accumulation stressinducing events manifests psychopathological symptoms maintaining positive evaluation wellbeing may understood parental resource deal diagnosis importance adopting comprehensive perspective parental adjustment highlighted