Abstract
Pregnancy and puerperium are crucial periods at both the biological and psychological levels. The aimof this longitudinal study was to investigate womens perceived health and illness during pregnancy andpuerperium through the assessment of hedonic and eudaimonic components of well-being, symptoms ofperipartum depression, and their relationship. Nineteen women recruited at the Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecologyof a university hospital in Northern Italy were enrolled and answered a set of questionnaires attwo time points: 20-22 weeks of gestation and 6 months after childbirth. Results showed a substantial lackof correlation between the dimensions of mental illness and mental health. The analysis of the well- andill-being components showed low levels of depression as well as good levels of mental health, especiallyconcerning the eudaimonic components of well-being, both during and after pregnancy. Overall, findingsattested to a general stability of well-being over pregnancy and puerperium.
