Psychosocial Predictors of Prenatal Anxiety

A growing body of research indicates that maternal stress in general, and anxiety in particular, during pregnancy are significant risk factors for adverse birth outcomes. Researchers know very little empirically about the specific psychological and social factors that contribute to perceptions of stress and anxiety for women during pregnancy. To address this critical gap in the literature, this study investigates a variety of factors that may contribute to prenatal anxiety, including mastery, attitudes toward the pregnancy, social support, life events, and demographic factors. Structured interviews were conducted at three intervals in pregnancy (18–20 weeks, 28–30 weeks, and 35-36 weeks) in a sample of 453 European American, African American, and Latina pregnant women. Results from cross–sectional analyses indicated that prenatal anxiety was higher among women who were low in mastery, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 24, No. 4, 2005, pp. 497-519