Hospital construction and postpartum anxiety

To explore the hypothesis that environmental stress in the form of construction on a postpartum ward may be associated with enhanced maternal anxiety.

Four hundred twenty-two mothers delivering at a university hospital were screened prior to discharge for anxiety using the State Scale of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Recent medical life events, perceived stress, mastery, marital satisfaction and discharge readiness were assessed by questionnaire and medical record review. During the latter part of the study, 9.5% of the women were subjected to construction on the postpartum ward.

STAI scores were significantly higher among women hospitalized during construction compared to those hospitalized prior to construction (37.03+/-1.83 vs. 33.34+/-0.51, P=.030). In a multivariate analysis controlling for other covariates associated with anxiety, construction remained a significant independent predictor of the STAI score.

Construction on a postpartum ward may be associated with increased maternal anxiety. This finding suggests that maternal anxiety at this sensitive time may be influenced by environmental factors.