Additional Funding Sources
This project was supported by the Idaho State University Office of Research, College of Arts & Letters, and Department of Psychology.
Presentation Date
7-2021
Abstract
Objectives: Both perceived stress and weight status (i.e., abdominal adiposity and obesity) have been related to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which may serve as a mechanism linking these factors and disease risk. However, this has not been studied in a population of pregnant women, despite unique risk factors (e.g., about 48% of US women gain in excess of CDC recommendations) and health consequences for excessive prenatal weight gain. Therefore, the current study examines associations between third-trimester subjective stress (Perceived Stress Scale), body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, and physiological stress markers (diurnal salivary cortisol).
Methods: Participants (n=125) from the Infant Development and Healthy Outcomes in Mothers (IDAHO Mom) Study were used to replicate findings from non-pregnant women, including individual and combined effects of subjective stress and weight status on physiological stress markers.
Results: Pre-pregnancy BMI was found to significantly predict PSS total score in the third trimester (Β=0.184) and PSS Total was a significant predictor of third trimester BMI (Β= .280), and abdominal waist circumference (Β=.397). Women in the obese BMI category had significantly higher perceived stress levels in comparison to women in all other BMI categories (p=0.007). No significant relationships were found to exist between subjective stress and cortisol, or weight status and cortisol.
Conclusion: Significant results indicating a predictive relationship between subjective stress and weight status are consistent with prior literature. However, no significant evidence of a relationship between diurnal cortisol levels and weight status or subjective stress was found, contradicting previous literature. Further studies can use a larger population sample to examine these relationships.
Relations Among Prenatal Subjective Stress, Weight Status, and Physiological Stress Markers
Objectives: Both perceived stress and weight status (i.e., abdominal adiposity and obesity) have been related to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which may serve as a mechanism linking these factors and disease risk. However, this has not been studied in a population of pregnant women, despite unique risk factors (e.g., about 48% of US women gain in excess of CDC recommendations) and health consequences for excessive prenatal weight gain. Therefore, the current study examines associations between third-trimester subjective stress (Perceived Stress Scale), body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, and physiological stress markers (diurnal salivary cortisol).
Methods: Participants (n=125) from the Infant Development and Healthy Outcomes in Mothers (IDAHO Mom) Study were used to replicate findings from non-pregnant women, including individual and combined effects of subjective stress and weight status on physiological stress markers.
Results: Pre-pregnancy BMI was found to significantly predict PSS total score in the third trimester (Β=0.184) and PSS Total was a significant predictor of third trimester BMI (Β= .280), and abdominal waist circumference (Β=.397). Women in the obese BMI category had significantly higher perceived stress levels in comparison to women in all other BMI categories (p=0.007). No significant relationships were found to exist between subjective stress and cortisol, or weight status and cortisol.
Conclusion: Significant results indicating a predictive relationship between subjective stress and weight status are consistent with prior literature. However, no significant evidence of a relationship between diurnal cortisol levels and weight status or subjective stress was found, contradicting previous literature. Further studies can use a larger population sample to examine these relationships.