DEGREE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF UNMARRIED PREGNANT WOMEN IN RURAL AREA OF CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Abstract

Unmarried pregnancy remains a deeply stigmatized phenomenon in rural India, frequently resulting in severe psychological distress and social alienation. This study investigates the degree of mental health and psychosocial adjustment among unmarried pregnant women (N = 148) in rural areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. Utilizing a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design, the study assesses psychological vulnerabilities—specifically depression, anxiety, stigma, suicidal ideation, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—alongside adaptive psychological resources, namely self-efficacy and resilience. Standardized psychometric instruments, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), were utilized for data collection. Quantitative analysis revealed alarming rates of severe depression (42.6%) and clinically significant anxiety (51.3%). Perceived social stigma was universally high, displaying a strong positive correlation with suicidal ideation (r = 0.58, p < 0.001) and PTSD symptomatology (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). Conversely, self-efficacy and resilience emerged as critical buffers, showing robust negative correlations with distress indicators. Based on these descriptive findings, this paper outlines targeted recommendations. These include implementing decentralized, stigma-free community mental health frameworks, integrating psychiatric screenings into rural antenatal care (ANC), and establishing community-led psychosocial support networks to safeguard this highly vulnerable demographic.