Journal Article

Psychosocial Factors and Preterm Birth Among African American and White Women in Central North Carolina

Hertz-Picciotto, Irva, McMahon, Michael J, Dole, Nancy, Buekens, Pierre, Savitz, David A, Siega-Riz, Anna Maria

2004

Overview

Objectives. We assessed associations between psychosocial factors and preterm birth, stratified by race in a prospective cohort study. Methods. We surveyed 1898 women who used university and public health prenatal clinics regarding various psychosocial factors. Results. African Americans were at higher risk of preterm birth if they used distancing from problems as a coping mechanism or reported racial discrimination. Whites were at higher risk if they had high counts of negative life events or were not living with a partner. The association of pregnancy-related anxiety with preterm birth weakened when medical comorbidities were taken into account. No association with preterm birth was found for depression, general social support, or church attendance. Conclusions. Some associations between psychosocial variables and preterm birth differed by race.

• Publisher: Am Public Health Assoc,American Public Health Association,American Journal of Public Health 2004
• Subject: Adaptation, Psychological / Adult / African Americans / African Americans - education / African Americans - ethnology / African Americans - psychology / African Americans - statistics & numerical data / Anxiety / Anxiety - complications / Anxiety - ethnology / Anxiety - psychology / Attitude to Health - ethnology / Biological and medical sciences / Birth Rate - ethnology / Births / Coping / Delivery. Postpartum. Lactation / Education / Educational Status / European Continental Ancestry Group - education / European Continental Ancestry Group - ethnology / European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology / European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data / Female / Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics / Health Behavior - ethnology / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Health risk assessment / Humans / Life Change Events / Medical sciences / Menstruation / Miscellaneous / North Carolina - epidemiology / Obstetric Labor, Premature - ethnology / Obstetric Labor, Premature - psychology / Obstetrical techniques / Pregnancy / Pregnancy Outcome - ethnology / Pregnancy Outcome - psychology / Premature birth / Prenatal care / Problem Solving / Prospective Studies / Psychological aspects / Psychosocial factors / Public health / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Questionnaires / Race / Racial discrimination / Research and Practice / Risk Factors / Sex discrimination / Social Support / Stress, Psychological - complications / Stress, Psychological - ethnology / Stress, Psychological - psychology / Surveys and Questionnaires / Ultrasonic imaging / White people / Women / Womens health