Psychological Correlates of somatic complaints in pregnancy and difficulty in childbirth.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that somatic complaints during pregnancy and difficulties in childbirth are related to anxiety and conflicts involving attitudes and feelings toward others. The Ss, 52 primiparous women, were given a series of tests and structured interviews. Significant positive relationships were found between somatic complaints during pregnancy and manifest anxiety, marital conflict, and indirect indicators of conflict in the interview, i.e., history of menstrual symptoms, birth, and baby dreams. 49 of the Ss' delivery room records were rated for duration of labor and amount of analgesic required. Only one significant relationship was found: anxiety, as measured by the Affect Adjective Check List given during pregnancy, was directly related to amount of analgesic required. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)