Relationships Among Number of Stressors, Perceived Stress, and Salivary Cortisol Levels During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To examine relationships among the number of stressors, perceived stress, and salivary cortisol levels during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data.

Setting: Participants' homes.

Participants: Women during the third trimester of pregnancy (N = 73).

Methods: Participants provided saliva samples at four time points over 2 days for cortisol assay and completed questionnaires to assess stressors and perceived stress. We computed multiple linear regression models to examine the relationships among the number of stressors and perceived stress to cortisol awakening response, diurnal slope, and overall cortisol secretion. We also computed a multiple linear regression model to examine the relationship between perceived stress and the number of stressors.

Results: Greater perceived stress was associated with reduced overall cortisol secretion across the day (β = -0.41, p = .01). The number of stressors was associated with perceived stress (β = 0.48, p = .002) but not salivary cortisol measures.

Conclusion: Elevated perceived stress and the related cortisol alterations that we identified could represent salient targets for enhancing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function during the third trimester. Perceived stress may shape the relationship between exposure to stressors and cortisol response during pregnancy. Future research is warranted to confirm study results and to understand the implications for parturition and fetal development.

Keywords: cortisol; perceived stress; pregnancy; psychological stressors.