Relation of emotional changes during pregnancy to obstetric complications in unmarried primigravidas
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TL;DR
Reliable group personality changes observed from pre- to postdelivery supported the contention that pregnancy is a time of emotional upset and the magnitude of changes were interpreted as emotional lability and related to obstetric complications by activation of various physiological regulator systems.
Abstract
This study was designed to assess the psychological changes experienced by white unmarried primigravidas during pregnancy, the relationship between manifest anxiety and clinical factors such as labor time and mean birth weight, and the personality differences between "normal" and "abnormal" obstetric cases. The Kent EGY intelligence scale, the Taylor manifest anxiety scale, and the MMPI were administered to 160 obstetric patients at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, with the MMPI and Taylor being readministered post partum. Reliable group personality changes observed from pre- to postdelivery supported the contention that pregnancy is a time of emotional upset. Following delivery, each patient was classified as normal or abnormal dependent on the clinical course of parturition, delivery, and condition of the offspring. There were no significant differences between these groups with respect to age or intelligence. Reliable differences were found, however, for manifest anxiety and total labor times. In addition, a positive relationship was found between manifest anxiety and birth weights. Personality differences found at predelivery between the subgroups were largely attributable to the abnormal group's greater neuroticism, anxiety, and use of the ruminative ego defenses. Post partum, the personality characteristics of the subgroups were quite similar. Both groups showed greater personality stability following delivery, with the most striking changes from predelivery demonstrable in the abnormal group. The magnitude of these changes were interpreted as emotional lability and related to obstetric complications by activation of various physiological regulator systems.