Levels of daily hassles and uplifts in employed and non-employed pregnant women

Abstract

It may be expected that women who are employed during pregnancy will report more stress than those who are not, since they have to cope with not only the changes accompany-ing pregnancy, but also changes occurring in the work situation as a result of the pregnancy. However, research has shown that working during pregnancy does not simply add to the amount of stress that pregnant women may be experiencing (DeJoseph, 1992). The aim of this study was to compare levels of stress reported by employed [n = 28) and non-employed (n = 28) women of primigravida status. The Daily Hassles and Uplifts Scales (Kanner et al., 1981) were used to measure stress and uplifts respectively. Daily hassles and uplifts were measured at three stages during pregnancy; 10–19 weeks, 28–34 weeks and 35–37 weeks. Results showed no significant differences in the reported frequency and severity of hassles and frequency and intensity of uplifts between employed and non-employed women during pregnancy. However, women reported more frequent hassles during the latter stages of pregnancy and more severe hassles during the early stages of pregnancy. Significant differences were also displayed over time in the reported intensity of uplifts, with both groups of women reporting less intense uplifts during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.