Prenatal maternal stress and prematurity: A prospective study of socioeconomically disadvantaged women.

Developed and tested a biopsychosocial model of birth weight and gestational age at delivery using structural equation modeling procedures. The model tested the effects of medical risk and prenatal stress on these indicators of prematurity after controlling for parity. Ss were 130 women (aged 18–42 yrs) of low socioeconomic status (SES) interviewed throughout pregnancy in conjunction with prenatal care visits to a public clinic. Ss also completed an abbreviated version of the Perceived Stress Scale (S. Cohen et al; see record 1984-24885-001) and the State form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Lower birth weight was predicted by earlier delivery and by prenatal stress. Earlier delivery was predicted by medical risk and by prenatal stress. Parity was not related to time of delivery or to birth weight. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)