Stress, pre-term labour and birth outcomes

Preliminary studies have suggested that stress may be associated with the o nset, treatment and outcomes of pre-term labour; however, a systematic comp arison of the stress of women with and without pre-term labour has not been reported. Therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to compare the stress (daily hassles and mood states) and birth outcomes of black and white women who experienced pre-term labour (PTL) during pregnancy with tho se who did not. The convenience sample consisted of 35 pregnant women hospi talized in 1996-1997 for the treatment of PTL (24-35 weeks gestation) and 3 5 controls matched on age, race, parity, gestational age and method of hosp ital payment. Women in the PTL group had significantly higher tension-anxie ty and depression-dejection on the Profile of Mood States (POMS), lower mea n birthweight and mean gestational age, and a higher percentage of babies b orn < 37 weeks and weighing 2500 g or less. Black women in the PTL group an d white women in the control group had significantly higher scores on the f atigue sub-scale of the POMS and the work and future security sub-scales of the Daily Hassles Scale. Women in the PTL group whose babies weighed 2500 g or less had significantly higher scores on the health, inner concern and financial responsibility sub-scales of the Daily Hassles Scale. The finding s from this study indicate the need for further exploration of the interact ion of race and stress in understanding and preventing PTL and low birthwei ght and the need to examine the role of social support in preventing pre-te rm birth after an episode of PTL.