The relationships of hardiness and stressful life events to obstetric risks

Abstract

Having documented the psychophysiological responses of the body to stress, researchers continue to explore variables influencing the intensity of stress created by life events. Obstetric studies have built upon past research findings and have explored the impact of stress on the course of pregnancy with results similar to those in the non-pregnant population. Modifiers of stress, such as hardiness, have been identified that may increase resistance to illness when excessive stress occurs. The purposes of this study were to explore the existence of relationships between and among hardiness, stressful life events, and obstetric risks. The research was a descriptive correlation study with an ex-post-facto design. The randomly selected sample consisted of 234 postpartum women who delivered at a large teaching hospital. The Schedule of Recent Life Events, the Personal Views Survey, and the Problem-Oriented Perinatal Risk Assessment System were used for data collection. Correlations among variables and hypotheses testing was completed using the Pearson Product Moment, linear, and multiple regression techniques. The three null hypotheses were supported. A positive though weak linear relationship between stress and problems developing during the pregnancy was revealed. Women who have high stress levels, during the six months prior to delivery, appeared to have a higher incidence of complications during their pregnancies than did women with lower stress levels. No relationships between hardiness and complications of either antepartum or labor emerged. Based on the knowledge that intense stress can place a women at risk for problems during her pregnancy, health care providers can assist high risk patients in identifying and utilizing resources to lessen the effects of stress. The Personal Views Survey could be used to understand how the individual patient perceives the events in her life and to identify appropriate strategies for strengthening her problem-solving and coping skills.