The Effects of Stress and Its Related Factors on Pregnant Women in Preterm Labor

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doi:2011.15.2.230

J Korean Soc Matern Child Health > Volume 15(2); 2011 > Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Maternal and Child Health 2011;15(2):230-240.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2011.15.2.230 Published online July 31, 2011.

The Effects of Stress and Its Related Factors on Pregnant Women in Preterm Labor

최선화¹, 김현지², 김건엽³, 이상원⁴

¹충남대
²충남대학교
³경북대학교
⁴차의과학대학교

조기진통 산모의 스트레스 및 관련 요인

최선화¹, 김현지², 김건엽³, 이상원⁴

¹충남대
²충남대학교
³경북대학교
⁴차의과학대학교

Abstract

Objectives
This study identified the effects of stress and related factors on pregnant women in preterm labor.
Methods
A survey was conducted on 100 pregnant women in preterm labor in their 20~36 weeks stage of pregnancy, hospitalized in three university hospitals in Daejeon city, South Korea between April and October 2008. Data about general characteristics, marriage or family factors, obstetrical factors, and stress were collected and analyzed by statistical methods including t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple liner regression analysis.
Results
It was found that, out of the general characteristics, economic status was statistically significant (p=0.010). Among marriage or family factors, higher stress levels appeared when there were no other children and if the husband was the only family member (p=0.000). Out of the obstetrical factors, the health status during pregnancy showed notable influence on early labor stress (p=0.000). The stress of preterm labor was correlated with pregnancy-related stress (stress caused by the spouse, stress caused by the baby, stress caused by pregnancy). In multivariate analysis, the factors that influence the stress of preterm labor were the family members and spouse stress.
Conclusions
The support provided by family members residing with the pregnant woman and the management of spouse stress were important in controlling the stress levels of pregnant women in preterm labor. Therefore, professionals looking after hospitalized pregnant women in preterm labor should conduct a wide-spectrum evaluation and provide education as well as biological and psychological interventions of stress from sources including the spouse and other family members.

Key Words: "preterm labor, stress, related factors,"