Woman’s perceived stress during pregnancy; stressors and pregnancy adverse outcomes

Abstract

Background: Stress perceived by mothers during pregnancy is dependent on several factors and can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes threatening mother and child physical and mental health.

Objective: The purpose of the present study is measuring perceived stress of pregnant women by 14 items Cohen’s perceived stress scale (PSS), detecting stressors surrounding pregnant women including male partner’s role, intimate violence, socioeconomic situation, etc., as well as investigate the effect of perceived stress on pregnancy adverse outcomes.

Method: Two hundred first gravid pregnant women between 18 and 35 years old at post labor ward entered our cross-sectional study. They were asked to fill out the PSS questionnaire and an information gatherer filled out the checklist for exposures and baseline characteristics.

Result: Mean ± SD of participants’ PSS was 25.5 ± 8.6. Mothers’ PSS was significantly higher in group reported father’s verbal aggression against mother (N = 71, 38%) (23.7 ± 9 versus 28.2 ± 7.2; p < .001) and father’s physical aggression against mother (N = 28, 15%) compared to nonexposed one (24.9 ± 7.7 versus 28.4 ± 8.7; p: .04). Mothers’ PSS score was significantly correlated with mothers’ satisfaction from both fathers’ emotional (r: −0.30, p: .001) and financial support (r: −0.34, p < .001) during pregnancy. Moreover, the mother’s satisfaction from father’s concomitance in prenatal care (PNC) visits was significantly correlated with the mother’s perceived stress (r: 0.24, p: .001).

Conclusion: Male partner’s role during pregnancy directly affects the pregnant woman’s perceived stress.

Keywords:

• Cohen’s perceived stress scale (PSS)
• male partner
• perceived stress
• pregnancy
• pregnancy adverse outcomes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.