Work

The Interaction Between Chronic Stress and Pregnancy: Preterm Birth from A Biobehavioral Perspective

Year: 2008

Type: review

Abstract: Women's health care providers are increasingly aware that chronic stressors--such as poverty, ongoing perceived stress and anxiety, intimate partner violence, and experiences of racism--are associated with an increased incidence of preterm birth in the United States. It is important to increase our understanding of the explanatory pathways involved in these associations. This article discusses the concepts of stress, chronic stress response, allostatic load, the physiology of labor initiation, and the pathophysiologic interactions that may contribute to the occurrence of chronic stress-related preterm birth. Implications for future research and interventions are explored.

Source: Journal of Midwifery & Women s Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmwh.2008.08.001

Author: Gwen Latendresse

Institution: University of Utah

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Nursing Research