Psychological stress and cortisol during pregnancy: An ecological momentary assessment (EMA)-Based within- and between-person analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although the linkage between psychological stress and cortisol is believed to mediate the association of stress with health outcomes, several studies have been unable to demonstrate this association. We suggest this inability may be a consequence of limitations in the measurement approach and/or reliance on analytic strategies that focus on associations across, rather than within individuals. The link between psychological stress and cortisol is of particular interest in the context of pregnancy and fetal development. Using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design, we examined the association between psychological stress and cortisol at the between- and the within-person level.

Methods

152 participants completed a 4-day long EMA protocol serially in early,

SUBMITTER: Lazarides C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7895320 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature