The relation of cortisol reactivity and anxiety to perinatal outcome in primiparous adolescents.
The relation of cortisol reactivity and self-report anxiety to perinatal outcomes was examined in a sample of 38 primiparous adolescents. Maternal cortisol and anxiety levels obtained in the first half of pregnancy and in mid-third trimester were found to be related to the gestational age of newborns, with higher levels of cortisol and/or anxiety predicting greater chance of pre- or postmature birth. However, when measured over time, a greater increase in cortisol levels was more predictive of positive perinatal outcomes, such as no meconium in labor. These findings suggest that certain levels of maternal reactivity/anxiety are necessary for positive perinatal outcomes.
School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536-0740.
W F
WF
McCool
L D
LD
Dorn
E J
EJ
Susman
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
D006854:Hydrocortisone