title: Correlates of experiencing life events just before or during pregnancy.
abstract: This study evaluates the prevalence of selected life events around the time of pregnancy, examining changes in the prevalence of these events, and identifying maternal characteristics associated with these events. We used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to examine 18 stressful life events among women who recently gave birth and to identify maternal characteristics associated with these events. PRAMS is a mail sample survey with telephone follow-up for non-respondents. Sixty-four percent of women experienced at least one event. The prevalence of specific events ranged from 0.4 to 30%. Women who experienced events differed from those who did not. Most notably, women of low socioeconomic status (SES) were much more likely to experience stressful life events. These events were also associated with other demographic and behavioral characteristics after controlling for SES. These results have implications for interpreting studies of stressful life events. The strong associations with SES highlight the importance of controlling for SES in studies of life events and health, and of considering differences in SES when interpreting these studies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway N.E., MS K-22, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. nsw1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brogan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blackmore-Prince
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors