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Personality, preterm labor contractions, and psychological consequences

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Research of psychological factors associated with imminent preterm labor (PTL) is sparse, compared with considerable research of preterm birth. We explored state and trait psychological variables associated with PTL, both pre- and postpartum.

Methods

During 2012–2014, 56 women hospitalized due to PTL, and 33 pregnant women without PTL, responded during gestational week 20–33, to a demographic questionnaire, the Big-Five Inventory (BFI), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire, and the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Inventory (MFAS). At 4–6 weeks postpartum, 35 and 23 of the women in the respective groups responded online to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Mother to Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS).

Results

Compared to women without PTL, women with PTL scored higher on neuroticism, openness to experience, and MFAS (p < 0.01 each), scored lower on consciousness and agreeableness (p < 0.01 each), and showed greater fear of childbirth (p < 0.05). Significant differences were not found in the postpartum variables of EPDS and MIBS. In the PTL group, MFAS (β = 0.36, p < 0.01), but not fear of childbirth (β = 0.08, p = NS), remained higher, after controlling for demographic variables and neuroticism.

Conclusions

PTL was associated with personality variables, but not with psychological consequences, other than elevated prepartum attachment to the fetus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo, 2 Rabenu Yeruham St., P.O.B 8401, 68114, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Jonathan E. Handelzalts, Sigal Levy, Yael Freund & Naama Carmiel

  2. The Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, 49100, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Haim Krissi, Eran Ashwal & Yoav Peled

  3. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Haim Krissi, Eran Ashwal & Yoav Peled

Authors
  1. Jonathan E. Handelzalts
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  2. Haim Krissi
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  3. Sigal Levy
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  4. Yael Freund
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Correspondence to Jonathan E. Handelzalts.

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Handelzalts, J.E., Krissi, H., Levy, S. et al. Personality, preterm labor contractions, and psychological consequences. Arch Gynecol Obstet 293, 575–582 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3898-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3898-4

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