A Model to Predict Birth Stress in Adolescents Within 72 Hours of Childbirth

An organizing framework for understanding adolescent birth stress in immediate postpartum does not exist. Researchers evaluated adolescent birth stress within 72 hours postpartum via a modification of Slade's conceptual model of risk factors for posttraumatic stress (PTS). Birth stress was defined by negative birth appraisal and subjective distress. Precipitating factors pain management, partner presence, and delivery type, plus maintaining factor infant complications, predicted negative birth appraisal. Predisposing factors depression and prior trauma predicted subjective distress. Findings support utility of Slade's modified model of PTS risk factors for identification of adolescent early birth stress and generate nursing practice and research implications.