Wadephul, Franziska and Glover, Lesley and Jomeen, Julie
(2020)
Conceptualising women's perinatal well-being: A systematic review of theoretical discussions.
Midwifery, 81 (102598).
ISSN 0266-6138
Abstract
Background: Perinatal well-being has increasingly become the focus of research, clinical practice and
policy. However, attention has mostly been on a reductionist understanding of well-being based on a
mind-body duality. Conceptual clarity around what constitutes well-being beyond this is lacking.
Aim: To systematically review theoretical discussions of perinatal well-being in the academic literature.
Design and methods: A search of online databases identified papers which discussed perinatal well-being
theoretically, taking a multi-dimensional approach to well-being. Thematic synthesis was used to identify
and synthesize relevant elements within the included papers.
Findings: Eight papers were identified for inclusion in this review. All contributed a number of elements
towards a theoretical discussion of perinatal well-being. Three themes were developed: (1) the impor-
tance of a number of general domains of women’s lives and domains specific to the perinatal period, (2)
well-being as a subjective and individual experience with physical/embodied, affective, and psychologi-
cal/cognitive aspects, and (3) the dynamic nature of well-being.
Conclusions and implications for practice: Perinatal well-being is a complex, multi-dimensional construct.
Current theoretical discussions in the academic literature do not provide a comprehensive model or con-
ceptualisation covering all aspects of well-being during the perinatal period. Further theoretical work is
required, particularly with regards to theorising well-being during labour and birth, the perinatal period
as a continuum, and the role played by women’s expectations. The themes identified in this review con-
tribute to a tentative model of perinatal well-being, taking note particularly of the dynamic nature of
well-being. This model should be refined and validated through empirical work and can then be used to
underpin further research and the development of a multi-dimensional measure of perinatal well-being.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Additional Information: |
Cite as: Franziska Wadephul, Lesley Glover, Julie Jomeen,
Conceptualising women's perinatal well-being: A systematic review of theoretical discussions,
Midwifery,
Volume 81,
2020,
102598,
ISSN 0266-6138,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2019.102598.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026661381930289X) |
| Keywords: |
Perinatal well-being;
Maternal well-being;
Pregnancy;
Birth;
Postnatal;
Systematic review; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology |
| Item ID: |
15387 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2019.102598 |
| Depositing User: |
Franziska Wadephul
|
| Date Deposited: |
01 Feb 2022 14:55 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Midwifery |
| Publisher: |
Elsevier |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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