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Maternal psychological distress, prenatal cortisol, and fetal weight.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Diego, MA; Jones, NA; Field, T; Hernandez-Reif, M; Schanberg, S; Kuhn, C; Gonzalez-Garcia, A
Published in: Psychosom Med
2006

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of maternal psychological distress on estimated fetal weight during midgestation and explore the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary axis and sympathoadrenal dysregulation as potential risk factors for these effects. METHODS: Fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and maternal sociodemographic characteristics, emotional distress symptoms, and first morning urine samples were collected during a clinical ultrasound examination for a cross-sectional sample of 98 women who were between 16 and 29 weeks pregnant. Fetal weight was estimated from ultrasound biometry measurements; maternal emotional distress was assessed using the daily hassles (stress), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (depression), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (anxiety) scales; and urine samples were assayed for cortisol and norepinephrine levels. RESULTS: Correlation analyses revealed that both maternal psychological (daily hassles, depression, and anxiety) and biochemical (cortisol and norepinephrine) variables were negatively related to fetal biometry measurements and estimated fetal weight. A structural equation model further revealed that when the independent variance of maternal sociodemographic, psychological distress, and biochemistry measures were accounted for, prenatal cortisol was the only significant predictor of fetal weight. CONCLUSIONS: Women exhibiting psychological distress during pregnancy exhibit elevated cortisol levels during midgestation that are in turn related to lower fetal weight.

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Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

2006

Volume

68

Issue

5

Start / End Page

747 / 753

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychological Tests
  • Psychiatry
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
 

Citation

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Diego, M. A., Jones, N. A., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., & Gonzalez-Garcia, A. (2006). Maternal psychological distress, prenatal cortisol, and fetal weight. Psychosom Med, 68(5), 747–753. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000238212.21598.7b
Diego, Miguel A., Nancy A. Jones, Tiffany Field, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Saul Schanberg, Cynthia Kuhn, and Adolfo Gonzalez-Garcia. “Maternal psychological distress, prenatal cortisol, and fetal weight.Psychosom Med 68, no. 5 (2006): 747–53. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000238212.21598.7b.
Diego MA, Jones NA, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, et al. Maternal psychological distress, prenatal cortisol, and fetal weight. Psychosom Med. 2006;68(5):747–53.
Diego, Miguel A., et al. “Maternal psychological distress, prenatal cortisol, and fetal weight.Psychosom Med, vol. 68, no. 5, 2006, pp. 747–53. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000238212.21598.7b.
Diego MA, Jones NA, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, Gonzalez-Garcia A. Maternal psychological distress, prenatal cortisol, and fetal weight. Psychosom Med. 2006;68(5):747–753.

Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

2006

Volume

68

Issue

5

Start / End Page

747 / 753

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychological Tests
  • Psychiatry
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System