title: Effect of pregnancy-specific stress on spontaneous preterm birth among Chinese people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current evidence implicates that psychosocial stress, especially pregnancy-specific stress, is associated with the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of pregnancy-specific stress on spontaneous preterm birth among Chinese people.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2,189 pregnant women were enrolled and followed up until parturition from February 2011 to January 2012. Maternal pregnancy-specific stress was assessed using the revised Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS) at third trimester in pregnancy. Socio-demographic and psychological data were collected through interviews, medical, and obstetrical examination records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of maternal pregnancy-specific stress during the third trimester increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth compared with the low and medium levels (adjusted risk ratios, 2.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-7.58). The first stressor from the revised PSRS includes a risk factor for the safety of infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High level of pregnancy-specific stress in third trimester might predict spontaneous preterm birth.
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: W Q
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult