Participation in alternative care: relationship to anxiety, depression, and hostility

Women's psychological mood and its relationship to satisfaction with participatory perinatal care was examined using a two-group evaluation design of convenience samples (N = 99). Women entered the perinatal experience with similar degrees of anxiety, depression and hostility, but contrary to prediction, the type of perinatal experience, conventional or alternative, was not associated with their psychological mood. However, women in both groups reported less anxiety 2 to 3 days and 4 weeks after delivery than they reported having in general prior to delivery. Women who were more satisfied with care and their participation in care, regardless of whether they had an alternative or conventional perinatal experience, reported less anxiety and depression immediately post delivery. In 4 weeks, satisfaction and participation in care were still negatively related to anxiety.