Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the predictability of personal factors,
self-esteem and marital relationship in relation to depression in pregnant women. The
Transition theory of Chick and Meleis was used to guide this study. The research sample
consisted of 200 pregnant women who attended at the Antenatal Clinic at Rajavithi
Hospital, during June 2003. The sample was selected by systematic random sampling.
The four instruments used in the study were the Personal factors record form, the
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Center for
Epidemiologic Depression Studies Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive
statistic and stepwise multiple regression.
The results revealed that depression of pregnant women was 30%. Self-esteem
and marital relationship were combined predictors, which could explain 35.1% of the
variance of depression in pregnant women with a statistical significance (p < .001).
This study suggests that nurses should assess self-esteem, marital relationship
and depression scores of pregnant women and provide early intervention, especially for
pregnant women who have low self-esteem and poor marital relationships