PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS, FEMALE FERTILITY AND PREGNANCY - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY .2. PREGNANCY

The aim of the study was to determine whether psychosocial factors hav e an influence on the progress and outcome of pregnancy and whether pe rsonality-related or stress factors are significant in this respect. O ne hundred and ninety-one nulliparas without a history of infertility were prospectively studied gynecologically and psychiatrically. Life c hanges and changes in stress factors were monitored throughout the stu dy period and obstetric complications were registered. By the end of t he study period 120 (63%) of the subjects had given birth, 38 (19%) ha d abortion, 22 (12%) did not conceive and the remaining 11 (6%) discon tinued. Certain psychosocial factors (e.g. life changes, anxiety, subj ectively estimated physically and mentally stressful work) were associ ated with complications of pregnancy. In the logistic regression analy sis the psychosocial stress factors were more strongly associated with the outcome of pregnancy than the factors related to personality. Adj usting for the stress-buffering factors (personality, coping methods a nd social support) did not reduce the original association.