Stress, symptoms, self-monitoring confidence, well-being, and social support in the progression of preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships of psychological stress, preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms, confidence in self-monitoring, well-being, and perceived social support with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension disease progression in outpatient women. Women with mild and severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension were compared for differences in these variables.


METHODS
A retrospective, correlational, and comparative design.


METHODS
Postpartum units of three urban hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


METHODS
One hundred postpartum women with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.


METHODS
Psychological stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms by the Preeclampsia/Gestational Hypertension Checklist, confidence in self-monitoring by the Self-Confidence in Self-Monitoring Scale, well-being by the Index of Well-Being, and social support by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List.


RESULTS
Women with worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension reported a significantly higher number of symptoms than women with mild preeclampsia/gestational hypertension (p= .02). Psychological stress was significantly higher (p= .04) in women with worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension. There were no differences in well-being, self-confidence in self-monitoring, or perceived social support between women with mild preeclampsia/gestational hypertension and those with worsening preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension was associated with increasing psychological stress and a higher number of preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms.
Black
Kathleen D
KD
Department of Nursing at the Temple University College of Health Professions, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. kblack01@temple.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D015143:Philadelphia; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000523:psychology; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*