The interaction between chronic stress and pregnancy: preterm birth from a biobehavioral perspective.
Women's health care providers are increasingly aware that chronic stressors--such as poverty, ongoing perceived stress and anxiety, intimate partner violence, and experiences of racism--are associated with an increased incidence of preterm birth in the United States. It is important to increase our understanding of the explanatory pathways involved in these associations. This article discusses the concepts of stress, chronic stress response, allostatic load, the physiology of labor initiation, and the pathophysiologic interactions that may contribute to the occurrence of chronic stress-related preterm birth. Implications for future research and interventions are explored.
Latendresse
Gwen
G
University of Utah, College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-4880, USA. gwen.latendresse@nurs.utah.edu
D052636:Allostasis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones