title: Psychological and physiological stress: impact on preterm birth.
abstract: Stress increases corticotropin-releasing hormone and may ultimately result in increased uterine contractility. Stress also increases cytokine production, which independently may lead to preterm birth or increase susceptibility to infection, thereby increasing the risk of preterm birth. Finally, stress may change health behaviors that lead to preterm birth. Research findings on the relationship between stress and preterm birth have been contradictory. In this article, the authors propose a model of the relationship between stress and preterm birth, evaluate the research on stress and pregnancy outcomes, and discuss the implications for nursing practice and research.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6096, USA. gennaro@nursing.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gennaro
authors.forename: Mary Dawn
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hennessy
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health