A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF PSYCHOSOCIAL AND LIFE-STYLE VARIABLES ON PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS

This prospective study examines the influence of maternal stress, soci al support and lifestyle variables reported over the course of pregnan cy on subsequent gestational and intrapartum complications. Demographi c and biomedical factors were also studied One hundred and two women w ere followed on a monthly basis beginning in the third month of pregna ncy. Measures a daily stress (hassles), state-anxiety (STAI-state) and pregnancy-specific stress were taken monthly Pregnancy progress and l ifestyle behaviors such as smoking, caffeine and alcohol intake were a ssessed by trimester: One month following delivery, a telephone interv iew was conducted to inquire about the labor/delivery and infant statu s. Sixty-three per cent of the women experienced a pregnancy complicat ion. Three groups consisting of women who experienced gestational comp lications, intrapartum complications only, and PM complications were f ormed. Women who subsequently experienced gestational complications re ported over the course of their pregnancy higher levels of state-anxie ty, daily hassles and pregnancy-specific stress beginning in the third month of pregnancy, Women who experienced complications during the in trapartum period only reported higher daily hassles during pregnancy a nd consumed more caffeinated beverages compared to the other groups, P rimiparous women were more likely to experience gestational and for in trapartum complications than multiparous women. These findings support a rate for psychosocial variables in pregnancy complications. The res ults indicate that certain psychosocial and lifestyle variables may be differentially associated with complications occurring at various pha ses of pregnancy.