Low psychosocial resources during early pregnancy are not associated with prolonged labour.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if a low level of psychosocial resources in early pregnancy is associated with the occurrence of prolonged labour.


METHODS
A cross sectional study of 644 women expecting their first child. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire at their first antenatal visit, measuring psychosocial resources defined as social network and support, work-related psychosocial factors, control of daily life and health characteristics. Outcome was prolonged labour at the end of the pregnancy.


RESULTS
A low level of psychosocial resources was not associated with prolonged labour. The majority of women reported that the degree of support was high in early pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
A perceived low level of psychosocial resources in early pregnancy did not increase the risk of prolonged labour at the subsequent delivery.
Nystedt
Astrid
A
Department of Nursing, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. astrid.nystedt@nurs.umu.se
Högberg
Ulf
U
Dejin-Karlsson
Elisabeth
E
Lundman
Berit
B
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012944:Social Support