title: Relationships among psychosocial factors, biomarkers, preeclampsia, and preterm birth in African American women: a pilot.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationships among psychosocial factors (optimism, uncertainty, social support, coping, psychological distress), biomarkers (cortisol, cytokines), preeclampsia, and preterm birth in African American women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine pregnant African American women completed psychosocial questionnaires and had blood collected for biomarkers between 26 and 36 weeks of gestation. Birth outcomes were obtained from birth records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women reporting higher levels of social support had lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-5, and IL-6). Surprisingly, compared with low-risk pregnant women, women diagnosed with preeclampsia reported more optimism and less avoidance, and had lower levels of cortisol and IFN-γ. Similarly, compared to women with full-term birth, women with preterm birth reported higher levels of optimism and lower levels of avoidance, and had lower levels of IL-10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychosocial factors influence inflammation and pregnancy outcomes. Close assessment and monitoring of psychosocial factors may contribute to improved pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Wayne State University. Electronic address: carmen.giurgescu@wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giurgescu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Thammasat University.
authors.forename: Natthananporn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sanguanklin
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Engeland
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago; Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Rosemary C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: White-Traut
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University of Chicago.
authors.forename: Herbert L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.affiliation: Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University of Chicago.
authors.forename: Linda Witek
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Janusek
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011584:Psychology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Cytokines; Preeclampsia; Preterm birth; Stress