Stressful life events, hypertensive disorders, and high blood sugar during pregnancy

The objective of this study was to examine the association of life events stressors with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) by using the multilevel sample from the 2007 Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) survey. Four multilevel logistic regression models were applied while accounting for the multilevel design of the LAMB study. The following demographic variables were used as covariates: maternal age, race/ethnicity, maternal educational attainment, household income level in the previous year, physical exercise, and prepregnancy body weight status. The scale for total number of stressors was positively associated with GDM in Model 1, but the association did not reach the significance threshold of 0.05. In Model 2 where four specific domains of stressors (financial, traumatic, spousal, and emotional stressors) were used as the key exposure variables, the number of financial stressors during pregnancy was significantly associated with a higher risk of GDM. The scale for total number of stressors was associated with HDP in Model 3. Experience of financial stressors during pregnancy was significantly associated with a higher risk of HDP in Model 4. In conclusion, exposure to higher number of financial stressors was associated with an elevated risk of GDM and HDP.