Elif ODABAŞI AKTAŞ, Hava ÖZKAN
Artuklu Health - 2025;5(3):47-54
Introduction: Emotional resilience is defined as an individual's ability to cope with stress and adverse situations and to recover quickly from difficulties. Individuals with high resilience can maintain their well-being in the face of life's challenges and may experience greater life satisfaction. Pregnancy is a period during which women experience intense physical and emotional changes. Anxiety, stress, and uncertainty are particularly common during first pregnancies. High emotional resilience during this period can enable more effective stress management and reduce the risk of mental health issues such as postnatal depression. Methods: In this review study, a comprehensive literature search was conducted between January and June 2025 across Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science (WOS) databases using the keywords "emotional resilience," "stress," "pregnancy," "midwifery," and related terms. Results: The literature indicates that pregnancy-specific stress is associated with preterm birth and fetal growth restriction; it may also be a significant determinant of psychological problems such as postnatal depression and anxiety. However, it is emphasized that emotional resilience plays a protective role in mitigating the negative effects of stress on sleep quality. Conclusion: Emotional resilience is considered a critical skill for protecting a woman's psychological health during pregnancy, enabling her to cope effectively with stress and have a positive birth experience. Therefore, it is of great importance that midwives, in particular, as well as family and society, adopt a supportive, inclusive, and empowering attitude.
