Relationship between Spiritual Intelligence and Resilience to the Mothers' Stress and Neonatal Anthropometric Indices

Transcription

1 Relationship between Spiritual Intelligence and Resilience to the Mothers' Stress and Neonatal Anthropometric Indices Amaneh Partovi Department of Psychology, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran Hassan Boland* Department of Counseling, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran Corresponding Author: Abstract Measurements of newborn weight, length and head circumference are the easiest measurements and one of the reliable means to evaluate the health and ripeness of the children. This study investigates the relationship between spiritual intelligence and resilience to the mothers' stress using the newborn anthropometric indices. This was a descriptive and correlational study. Statistical population of the study included all mothers with their newborns referring to the public and private hospitals of Rasht City from 21 March 2015 to 22 June 2015, of whom 105 were selected using the available sampling method. Data were collected using integrated scale of spiritual intelligence (Amram and Dryer, 2008), Resilience (Connor and Davidson, 2003), and measuring the neonatal anthropometric indices. Obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between spiritual intelligence and resilience and mothers' stress with the indices of weight, height and head circumference (anthropometric) baby (P<0.05). Accordingly, it can be concluded that maternal psychological characteristics such as intelligence and resilience to the mothers' stress can improve neonatal anthropometric indices. Keywords: Neonatal Anthropometric Indices, Spiritual Intelligence, Resilience to Stress. Page 732

2 Introduction Growth and health of the fetus is deeply influenced by psychological processes of the mothers, since the intrauterine environment is continuously by emotions and mental state of mothers and this leads to many mood and developmental differences in newborns. Unfortunately, existing knowledge on mechanisms that cause maternal psychological changes affect the growth and health of her fetus is minimal, however, understanding these mechanisms for the development of treatment and intervention methods is of great clinical significance. Studies and evaluations on the relationship between maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and its effects on the fetus are different in conceptualization of mental pressure during the pregnancy. Some scholars consider stress and anxiety as an essential part of mental pressure during the pregnancy and as an accelerating factor of the biochemical transformations of mother's body (Peters et al., 1982; Clifford, et al., 1989). Some scholars investigated the relationship between the negative events during the pregnancy and birth consequences in a framework of maternal role before the birth of the infants on the development and health of the infants. They found that stress at the beginning of the pregnancy might lead to the failure when bearing (Carmichael and Shaw, 1999; Marjorie et al., 2000; Dunkel-Scheter, 1998). Several studies have shown that religion and saying prayer play a central role in the mothers' healthy behaviors and attitudes and this relationship has a great impact on the infant birth output with (Page, 2004; Magana and Clark, 1995; Dalmida et al., 2010). Spirituality and spiritual growth of humans and its role in different parts of life, in recent decades, has been increasingly considered by psychologists and mental health professionals. It seems that nowadays, most of the people in the world appeal to spirituality and spiritual issues more than before and psychologists and physicians realize that using the new methods based on the psychological, social and physical are not sufficient for treatment of the psychological disorders. This global attention and desire for the spiritual issues has led to the fact that some health organizations such as WHO review their definitions on humans and human nature. This organization refers to the physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects and the fourth dimension in defining aspects of human existence, and introduces the spirituality as the fourth dimension in human growth and development (Shahidi and Shirafkan, 2003). Studies on the relationship between spiritual intelligence, psychological characteristics, and physical consequences have been show that there is a significant and positive relationship between spiritual intelligence and extroversive and conscientious personality (Abedifar, 2008). Lysne and Wachholtz (2011) showed that spirituality increases people's resistance to the pain. Resilience to the stress is one of other variables related with neonatal anthropometric indices, which means the positive capacity of people to cope with stress and disasters. Studies show that resilience to the stress means the ability to control the fear or tendency towards inhibiting the fears quickly and efficiently after a disastrous event (Koolaei et al., 2010). Resilience as a process is an ability or outcome of successful adaptation despite threatening conditions. It does not mean the lack of the risk factors in life, but it means the presence of the supportive psychological factors; and these factors may refer to the processes and performances that lead to the desirable consequences in human lives. For example, when people encounter with risks and challenges of Page 733

3 life, they can reduce the negative and destructive effects of life pressures despite supportive factors such as optimism, self-confidence and negative emotions control (Khodabakhshi et al., 2003). Resilient people have internal control locus, it means that people can accept responsibility for their problems, have self-positivity, and are optimistic about life (Garmezy, 1991). They have strong personalities and benefit from mental and physical health compared to the people who are impatient or intolerant in life (Conner and Davidson, 2003). In other words, stress resilience is considered as a psychological ability. Resilience is a feature that belongs to people who are exposed to certain risk factors and can overcome those dangers and avoid negative consequences. Studies show that there is a positive and significant relationship between spirituality, spiritual intelligence, and resilience (Khodabakhshi et al., 2010; Garmezy, 1991; Conner and Davidson, 2003; Binaeian, 2011). The researchers stress that increasing the level of meaning and spirituality in life, not only helps the individuals overcome disagreements, but also provides their consent to the life (Khodabakhshi et al., 2010). Moreover, several studies show the relationship between spiritual intelligence and stress resilience of the mothers (Keykhosrovani et al., 2012; Keshavarzi and Yousefi, 2012; Sedighi et al., 2014). Moreover, Carr (2004) showed that people with higher spiritual intelligence have integrated beliefs, too that gives the meaning to their lives, so that they can tolerate mental pressures and are optimistic and hopeful. On the other hand, the people who benefit from social support and have a healthier life style and all of these shows the higher resilience of these people and their higher mental health. Pournesaei et al (2013) found a significant positive relationship between mental health and resilience and there is a significant positive relationship between spiritual intelligence and resilience. In sum, it can be concluded that spiritual intelligence and stress resilience of the mothers are of the variables related to the neonatal anthropometric indices. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between spiritual intelligence and resilience to the mothers' stress and neonatal anthropometric indices. This study seeks to explore if there is a relationship between the spiritual intelligence and resilience and mothers' stress with the neonatal anthropometric indices. Method This is a descriptive correlational - applied study. Correlational method is one of the descriptive (non-experimental) methods. This study shows the relationship between variables based on research objective (Sarmad et al., 2010). Statistical Society Statistical population of the study included all pregnant mothers with their newborns referring to the public and private hospitals of Rasht City from 21 March 2015 to 22 June Cluster sampling method was used at the primary stage so that three hospitals of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Family, and Aria were selected from public and private hospitals. Finally, available sampling method was used with respect to the volunteering for participating in the Page 734

4 study and qualified volunteers for conducting the test. Sample size was 105 pregnant mothers and newborns that were selected with respect to the following criteria follows: mother's age (18-35 years old), mother's education (above diploma), lack of maternal diseases (diabetes, chronic blood pressure, congenital heart diseases, connective tissue diseases, pulmonary diseases, severe anemia, hyperthyroidism, hereditary metabolic disorders, kidney diseases), average income of family, maternal nutritional status (having proper nutrition conditions during the pregnancy), body mass index (BMI appropriate for the pregnancy), and non-smoking. For the aim of this study, necessary permissions from University and Health Department, Medical Treatment and Training were taken by coordinating with the presidents of three hospitals of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Family, and Aria in Rasht. This was conducted in order to collect data with respect to the inclusion criteria for studying the resilience and spiritual intelligence on the pregnant mothers in these hospitals. After childbirth, neonatal anthropometric indices of the newborns were measured. Research Instruments Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale (Amram and Dryer, 2008) This scale was developed by Amram and Dryer in 2008 with 83 items and it is important from two aspects. First, this test is theoretically based on qualitative research and it included the participants with a wide variety of religious and spiritual backgrounds. Second, scholars have sought to test and complete the developing scale experimentally and sort the different groups based on the spirituality tendency in addition to using the conventional methods of measuring the validity and reliability. They seek to measure five components of spiritual intelligence (awareness, compassion, meaning, transcendence, and truth) using 83 items. The short version of the scale includes 45 items selected from the original version. This scale was translated by Boland and Shaterian Mohammadi in 2013 and its reliability and validity was reported by them. Each item is rated based on the six-point Likert scale and scored from They implemented this scale for 414 students and obtained its reliability as 0.87 after deleting the weak and negative questions and after decreasing questions to 41 using the internal consistency of Cronbach s alpha and obtained validity as 0.87 using the factor analysis (Boland and Shaterian Mohammadi, 2003). Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) (2003) This scale has 25 items and measures the resilience based on the five-point Likert scale. Each items is scored from 1 (completely false) to 5 (always true). Scoring range is that Mohammadi (2005) translated it into Persian and reported its reliability. He used this scale for 248 people and obtained its reliability using Cronbach's alpha internal consistency as 0.89 and validity using the factor analysis as Khodabakhshi Koolaei et al. (2013) obtained reliability of this questionnaire using the internal consistency of Cronbach's alpha in a sample of 211 people as Page 735

5 Neonatal anthropometric Index Determining the birth parameters is one of the basic measures in the evaluation of each newborn baby and includes measurement of height, weight, and head circumference. This index includes measurements that are recorded by every qualified doctor or midwife such as the baby's weight, height and head circumference at birth (Nickavar et al., 2002). Findings The statistical sample of this study included 105 mothers and their newborns. Average maternal age was years old (standard deviation: 4.00 and range: 20-35). Table 1 reports the descriptive indices of the research variables such as the mean and standard deviation. Moreover, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for analyzing the normal distribution of variables in the test subjects. Non-significant results showed the normal distribution of variables. Table 1 descriptive indices of the research variables and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test variable M SD k-s P Spiritual intelligence resilience baby's weight baby's height baby's head circumference As shown in Table 1, the distribution of variables among the subjects is normal (P<0.05). Due to normal distribution of the variables among subjects, parametric statistics was used to evaluate the research hypotheses. To examine the relationship between variables, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used. First hypothesis: There is a relationship between spiritual intelligence of the mothers and baby's weight. The results showed a significant positive relationship between spiritual intelligence of the mothers and baby's weight (P=0.000, r=0.410). In other words, mothers who have higher levels of spiritual intelligence, their baby's weight at birth is higher. Therefore, the first hypothesis was confirmed. The second hypothesis: There is a relationship between spiritual intelligence of the mothers and baby's height. The results showed a significant positive relationship between spiritual intelligence of the mothers and baby's height (P=0.44, r=0.197). In other words, mothers who have higher levels of spiritual intelligence, their baby's height at birth is higher. Therefore, the second hypothesis was confirmed. The third hypothesis: There is a relationship between spiritual intelligence of the mothers and baby's head circumference. The results showed a significant positive relationship between spiritual intelligence of the mothers and baby's head circumference (P=0.027, r=0.216). In other words, mothers who have Page 736

6 higher levels of spiritual intelligence, their baby's head circumference at birth is higher. Therefore, the third hypothesis was confirmed. The fourth hypothesis: There is a relationship between resilience of the mothers and baby's weight. The results showed a significant positive relationship between resilience of the mothers and baby's weight (P=0.000, r=0.355). In other words, mothers who have higher levels of resilience, their baby's weight at birth is higher. Therefore, the fourth hypothesis was confirmed. The fifth hypothesis: There is a relationship between resilience of the mothers and baby's height. The results showed a significant positive relationship between resilience of the mothers and baby's height (P=0.008, r=0.256). In other words, mothers who have higher levels of resilience, their baby's height at birth is higher. Therefore, the fifth hypothesis was confirmed. The sixth hypothesis: There is a relationship between resilience of the mothers and baby's height. The results showed a significant positive relationship between resilience of the mothers and baby's head circumference (P=0.005, r=0.270). In other words, mothers who have higher levels of resilience, their baby's head circumference at birth is higher. Therefore, the sixth hypothesis was confirmed. The seventh hypothesis: There is a relationship between resilience of the mothers and spiritual intelligence. The results showed a significant positive relationship between resilience of the mothers and spiritual intelligence (P=0.000, r=0.381). In other words, mothers who have higher levels of spiritual intelligence are more resilient. Therefore, the seventh hypothesis was confirmed. Discussion and Conclusion This study aimed to investigate the relationship between spiritual intelligence and resilience to mothers' stress and neonatal anthropometric indices. Research hypotheses are here discussed. The results of the first hypothesis using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between spiritual intelligence of the mothers and baby's weight. In other words, mothers who have higher levels of spiritual intelligence, their baby's weight at birth is higher. These findings are implicitly consistent with those of Molavi et al. (2003), Sanut (2011), Bennington (2010), Lysne and Wachholtz (2011), and Dalmida et al (2010). For explaining this finding, it can be said that spiritual intelligence indicates a set of abilities, capacities, and spiritual resources that can help people to increase their adaptability, problem-solving potentials, and coping abilities, find the meaning for their lives, benefit from their health, internal and external peace and dynamism (Emmons, 2000). Therefore, spiritual intelligence can lead to the physical and psychological health of the mothers during pregnancy and consequently, and improve baby's weight index at birth. The results of the second hypothesis using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between spiritual intelligence is the mother and baby's height. In other words, women who have higher levels of spiritual intelligence, their baby's height at birth is higher. These findings are implicitly consistent with those of Molavi et al. (2003), Aman and Toursen (2002), Carr (2004), Sanut (2011), Bennington (2010) and Lysne and Wachholtz (2011). Page 737

7 It can be said that religion and saying prayer play a central role in the mothers' healthy behaviors and attitudes and this relationship has a great impact on the infant birth output (Page, 2004; Magana and Clark, 1995; Dalmida et al., 2010). Moreover, spirituality plays an important and effective role on the mothers' health and their attitudes and this may indirectly affect the infant birth output and has a protective effect on this population (Page, 2004; Magana and Clark, 1995; Dalmida et al., 2010). The results of the third hypothesis using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between spiritual intelligence is the mother and baby's head circumference. In other words, women who have higher levels of spiritual intelligence, their baby's head circumference at birth is higher. These findings are implicitly consistent with those of Molavi et al. (2003), Aman and Toursen (2002), Sherry et al. (2002), Sanut (2011), Bennington (2010) and Lysne and Wachholtz (2011). According to Sherry et al. (2002), spiritual intelligence is the core of individual beliefs that affect his or her performance and forms the real framework of the life. Spiritual intelligence increases the flexibility, self-consciousness, and lead to the higher patience and resistance to the difficulties of life. In fact, spiritual intelligence is the capacity for inspiration and seeks to find the answer for the main questions of life and criticize the customs using the intuition and holistic view. The results of the fourth hypothesis using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between resilience and baby's weight. In other words, women who have higher levels of resilience, their baby's weight at birth is higher. This finding is implicitly consistent with those of Williamson and Lefevere (1992), Lobel (1994), McWilliams (1994), Molavi et al. (2003), Beigi and Bahadoran (2007), Omidvar et al. (2007), Mojebian and Kabiri (2012). Growth and health of the fetus is deeply influenced by psychological processes of the mothers, since the intrauterine environment is continuously by emotions and mental state of mothers and this leads to many mood and developmental differences in newborns. Unfortunately, existing knowledge on mechanisms that cause maternal psychological changes affect the growth and health of her fetus is minimal, however, understanding these mechanisms for the development of treatment and intervention methods is of great clinical significance. Studies and evaluations on the relationship between maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and its effects on the fetus are different in conceptualization of mental pressure during the pregnancy. The results of the fifth hypothesis using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between resilience and baby's height. In other words, women who have higher levels of resilience, their baby's height at birth is higher. This finding is implicitly consistent with those of Williamson and Lefevere (1992), Lobel (1994), McWilliams (1994), Molavi et al. (2003), Beigi and Bahadoran (2007),Omidvar et al. (2007), Mojebian and Kabiri (2012). According to Bonanno (2004; quoted by Sedighi et al., 2014), people have always encountered with problems and in have sought to find the best solutions. For example, some of them consider the problems as an opportunity to develop their abilities. Given the possible problems and damages that people experience in their development process, the ability to Page 738

8 overcome the difficult conditions - while maintaining the mental balance - is very important. One of the most structures in positivistic psychology is the resilience. The results of the sixth hypothesis using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between resilience and baby's head circumference. In other words, women who have higher levels of resilience, their baby's head circumference at birth is higher. This finding is implicitly consistent with those of Williamson and Lefevere (1992), Lobel (1994), McWilliams (1994), Molavi et al. (2003), Beigi and Bahadoran (2007), Omidvar et al. (2007), Mojebian and Kabiri (2012). Resilient people have internal control locus, it means that people can accept responsibility for their problems, have self-positivity, and are optimistic about life (Garmezy, 1991). They have strong personalities and benefit from mental and physical health compared to the people who are impatient or intolerant in life (Conner and Davidson, 2003). The results of the seventh hypothesis using Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant positive relationship between mother's resilience and spiritual intelligence. In other words, women who have higher levels of spiritual intelligence are more resilient. This finding is implicitly consistent with those of Sedighi et al. (2014), Khodabakhshi Kolaei et al. (2013), Pournesaei et al. (2013), Khormaei et al. (2013), Keshavarzi and Yousefi (2012), Lysne and Wachholtz (2011). Carr (2004) showed that people with higher spiritual intelligence have integrated beliefs, too that gives the meaning to their lives, so that they can tolerate mental pressures and are optimistic and hopeful. On the other hand, the people who benefit from social support and have a healthier life style and all of these shows the higher resilience of these people and their higher mental health. People with intellectual intelligence can find the proper solutions for their life problems are more resilient. Recognition of God and meaningful life is one of the cores of spiritual intelligence and improves the resilience and tolerance of the people when they encounter with the problems. if people have higher spiritual intelligence, can experience a meaningful life, tolerate the difficulties and show higher rate of resilience. Therefore, there is a logical relationship between the spiritual intelligence and maternal resilience. Page 739

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