Stress During Pregnancy Experienced Stress, Stress Hormones, and Protective Factors

摘要: High levels of stress during pregnancy are associated with a number adverse psychological and physiological outcomes for mother child. These effects seem to be transmitted in part by one the major stress-responsive systems, namely hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which includes hormone cortisol. However, as inconsistent study results indicate, methodology poses substantial challenge investigation pregnancy. For example, although measures maternal hormones independently related outcome, they seldom have been found correlate another directly. Repeated measurement biological responses acute standardized challenges appears reveal stronger associations. This article reviews literature on experienced pregnant women presents studies that used (e.g., Trier Social Stress Test, cort...