The evaluation of emotional violence and sleep quality in Turkish pregnant women: A cross-sectional study

Background: Emotional violence during pregnancy may negatively affect maternal and fetal health and impair sleep quality. The study aimed to evaluate pregnant women’s exposure to emotional violence and their sleep quality. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with ۲۶۲ pregnant women at Samsun Education and Research Hospital in the city of Samsun, Turkey, between February and May ۲۰۲۴. The sample was obtained using simple random sampling. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic and Obstetric Checklist, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Exposure to Emotional Violence Scale (EVS). Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey’s post hoc comparisons, and all data were analyzed using SPSS v.۲۵. Statistical significance was set at p <۰.۰۵. Results: Spousal violence during pregnancy was reported by ۱۶.۰% (CI ۹۵%: ۱۱.۵ – ۲۰.۵) of participants. The mean (standard deviation) total PSQI score was ۵.۷۷ (۳.۴۹), and ۵۴.۲% (CI ۹۵%, ۴۸.۲–۶۰.۲) of the pregnant women had poor sleep quality. The mean (SD) total EVS score was ۳۸.۸۰ (۱۳.۲۵), indicating a low level of emotional violence exposure. Pregnant women with poor sleep quality had significantly higher EVS total scores (p=۰.۰۲۰), as well as higher scores in the subdomains of obstruction (p=۰.۰۴۴), humiliation (p=۰.۰۴۶), harm (p=۰.۰۲۱), and verbal abuse (p=۰.۰۲۲). Conclusion: It was demonstrated that half of the pregnant women had poor sleep quality and were exposed to low levels of emotional violence. Pregnant women with poor sleep quality were found to be more exposed to emotional violence.

کلیدواژه ها:

Emotional abuse ، Pregnancy ، Sleep quality