Ehlert
Fakultäten » Philosophische Fakultät » Psychologisches Institut » Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie » Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ehlert » Ehlert
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Psychobiological stress reactivity in second trimester pregnant women and their unborn children | ||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | From research conducted on the psychobiology of pregnancy it is known that some forms of complications during pregnancy are related to psychological stressors. Maternal stress affects not only the stress system of the pregnant woman, but also the fetus via placental inputs and may lead to increased risks of intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labor or low birth weight, which in turn may result in pathological child development. From this point of view, the 2nd trimester of pregnancy appears to be a highly significant phase of hormonal transition from non-pregnant state to stable pregnancy (See also our previous research on second trimester pregnancy in humans). The present project aims at disclosing possible influences of psychological stress during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy on fetal development and the adjustment of stress-buffering coping strategies and psychological adaptation. Furthermore, consequences of the maternal-fetal stress reactivity on postpartum well-being of the mothers and their children will be examined. For these purposes psychobiological parameters are assessed in mothers during a stress condition as well as the immediate fetal stress response. These results will be compared to a rest condition. Various questionnaires will be completed by the future mothers during different stages of the pregnancy as well as post partum. A structured clinical interview will be performed by trained interviewers to assess the participants’ mental health. The present prospective study may provide insights that could help in developing early prevention programs for pregnant women at risk of stress over-stimulation. | ||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | pregnancy, antenatal stress, fetal development, stress reactivity, coping strategies, postpartum well-being | ||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
SNF (Personen- und Projektförderung) |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Aug 2008 to Jan 2012 |