The Effect of Amniocentesis on Parental Anxiety and Self Concept
The Effect of Amniocentesis on Parental Anxiety and Self Concept
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Date
1981
Authors
Thomas, Maureen Mulroy
Advisor
Dittmann, Laura L.
Citation
DRUM DOI
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to provide prospective information
about the psychological consequences of amniocentesis for both the
husband and wife. Amniocentesis is a procedure in which a sample of
amniotic fluid is withdrawn from the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus
during the second trimester of pregnancy and which is then cultured and
tested for the presence of biochemical and chromosomal defects in the fetus.
By gathering anxiety and self concept data before and after the results
of the amniocentesis were known and then comparing it to similar data
collected from pregnant couples who did not opt for the amniocentesis
procedure, it was hoped that the following research questions would be
answered.
1. Do individuals' levels of anxiety and self concept change after
receiving the results of the amniocenteses?
2. Are there differences in women's and men's levels of anxiety and
self concept before or after receiving the results of the amniocenteses?
3. Are the levels of anxiety and self concept of couples who have
amniocenteses different from the levels of anxiety and self concept of
couples who are pregnant but who do not have amniocenteses?
There were two sources of data for this study. The first source was
the treatment group which was composed of 25 women and their spouses who
had an amniocentesis performed during the fifth month of pregnancy. The second source of data was the comparison group which was composed of 25
women and their spouses who were pregnant but who did not have an amniocentesis
performed. These two groups were comparable in terms of socioeconomic
status, educational achievement, racial composition, and religious
affiliation. Both groups were interviewed at home on two occasions
and during these times they were asked to describe their pregnancy
experiences and to respond to the Institute of Personality and Ability
Testing Anxiety Scale Questionnaire and the Tennessee Self Concept Scale.
To determine if changes occur in the treatment group's anxiety and
self concept scores after receiving the test results, correlated t-Tests
were performed. It was found that there were no statistically significant
changes in either the women's or men's level of anxiety and self concept
after receiving negative amniocentesis results. Negative amniocentesis
results mean that the fetus has been found to be free of certain genetic
defects. To answer the second research question concerning differences
in anxiety and self concept scores for the treatment women and men, a series
of oneway analyses of variance were performed on the data. It was found
that the treatment group women had statistically higher levels of anxiety
then their spouses both before and after the results of the amniocentesis
were known. In terms of the self concept, the analyses revealed no evidence
of statistical differences between the amniocenteis women and men. To
determine if there were differences in levels of anxiety and self concept
for treatment and comparison group couples, another series of oneway analyses
of variance were performed. It was found that there were no statistically
significant differences between the treatment and comparison group women
in terms of anxiety or self concept but there were statistically significant
differences between the men. The treatment group men were found to be significantly less anxious than the comparison group men both before and
after receiving the negative amniocentesis results. In terms of self
concept, the treatment group men were found to feel significantly more
positive about themselves before the results of the amniocentesis were
known but not after.
Based on this study's findings, it would seem that the degree of
anxiety experienced by the amniocentesis couple during the waiting period
is relative to the sex of the individual and is, at worst, no greater than
that associated with being pregnant. It would also seem that in the early
weeks after the diagnosis is known, negative amniocentesis results do little
to reduce a couple's feelings of anxiety. Finally, it would seem that there
is no decrease in a couple's self concept as a results of having an amniocentesis
performed.
Explanations for the discrepancies between this study's findings and
the amniocentesis literature were given. They were grouped into one of
three categories-- psychological orientation of the couples, demographic
variables, and study design differences. Suggestions were also given for
improving the genetic counseling amniocentesis couples receive as a result
of this study's findings and areas for further investigation were discussed.