title: Predictors of Antenatal Psychosocial Stress in Taiwanese Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antenatal stress has been associated with adverse outcomes in mothers and their children. However, little research has been conducted to identify the factors associated with psychosocial stress in pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explored the predictors of psychosocial stress during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 136 second-trimester and 164 third-trimester pregnant women were recruited from a medical center in southern Taiwan. Data were collected using a demographic form, Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS), Edinburgh Prenatal Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale, and Interpersonal Support Evaluation List.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study found positive correlations between PSRS and both Edinburgh Prenatal Depression Scale (r = .368, p < .01) and Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (r = .168, p < .01) and negative correlations between PSRS and both gravidity (r = -.137, p < .05) and Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (r = -.266, p < .01). Higher pregnancy stress was predicted by depression, lower social support, maternal-fetal attachment, and primigravid status, which together explained 20% of the total variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression, social support, maternal-fetal attachment, and gravidity are discrete predictive factors of psychosocial stress in pregnant women. These findings add to existing knowledge of the factors associated with prenatal stress. Future research should include depression in a support model of antenatal stress management.
authors.affiliation: 1PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, and Department of Nursing, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University 2PhD, RN, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Hung Kuang University 3PhD, RN, Professor, Institute of Allied Health Science and Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University.
authors.forename: Hsing-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shu-Yueh
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chung-Hey
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000523:psychology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000523:psychology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult