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Pregnancy Outcomes: Psychosocial Aspect

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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine

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Synonyms

Depression; Pregnancy complications

Definition

For most women, pregnancy is viewed as a natural and joyful event. In more than 80% of pregnancies, the delivery process is unremarkable, with no physiological or psychological complications. Indeed, the most notable changes associated with pregnancy often occur in social and partner relations, as well as changes to one’s lifestyle. For instance, sleep deprivation and disturbance are the most frequently reported pregnancy-related disturbances. Pregnancy-related sleep disturbances, in turn, impact numerous facets of life including mood, cognition, social functioning, and memory (Harding 1975).

For a small percentage of women, pregnancy and delivery are complicated by a variety of adverse outcomes. Preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), or preterm delivery can significantly affect the psychological health of women. Psychosocial aspects of pregnancy outcomes range along a continuum and are multidimensional....

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References and Further Reading

  • Harding, M. E. (1975). Maternity. In M. E. Harding (Ed.), The way of all women (pp. 160–170). New York: Harper and Row.

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  • Lederman, R., & Weis, K. (2009). Psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy: Seven dimensions of maternal role development (3rd ed.). Dordrecht: Springer.

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  • Zager, A. (2009). Women’s Medicine. The Global Library of Women’s Medicine. Ref Type: Online Source.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA

    Michele L. Okun

Authors
  1. Michele L. Okun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michele L. Okun .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA

    Marc Gellman

  2. Campbell University School of Pharmacy, Buies Creek, North Carolina, USA

    J. Rick Turner

Section Editor information

  1. Behavioral Medicine Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    Marc D. Gellman

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© 2018 Springer Science+Business Media LLC

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Okun, M.L. (2018). Pregnancy Outcomes: Psychosocial Aspect. In: Gellman, M., Turner, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_827-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_827-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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