Biopsychosocial functioning in maternal prenatal pregnancy

Introduction: preterm birth (< 37 completed weeks of gestation) continues to be a major public and medical problem. Forty per cent of cases of preterm birth has no clear aetiology, to understand the impact of stress as a potential risk factor for preterm delivery is essential. The objective of the present study was to assess how psychosocial factors and temperament may contribute to preterm birth. Methods: a case/control retrospective study in 48 women (24 preterm and 24 term) was run. No differences between case group and control group about social background, cultural, civil, and age were found. Materials were: questionnaire on life events, Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAIY1/Y2). Results: significant differences between case group and control group were found for Harm Avoidance (HA) as personality trait in TCI (p = 0.0273); moreover, significant differences between case group and control group were found for Tension/Anxiety, Depression, Aggression/Anger, Confusion, and Fatigue as mood state in POMS (p < 0.0001), as so as in STAI Y1 (p < 0.0001). Instead, in Vigour/Strength POMS controls were higher (p < 0.0001) than cases. Conclusions: pregnancy is a delicate and special event in a woman's life in which the limitation of stressful events, emotional states, traits of anxiety, and harm avoidance as personality trait, should be recognized and managed to prevent the occurrence of adverse outcomes. The data may help to identify women at higher risk of prenatal pregnancy