Psychosocial stress and obstetrical complications. The need for a comprehensive model

The relationship between life events, anxiety, social support, coping style and obstetrical complications was studied in a series of 319 pregnant women; they were interviewed during the sixth month of pregnancy. To allow a prospective study, only obstetrical complications occurring after the interview were considered. 142 of the women proved to be complicated and the remaining 177 uncomplicated. Taken singly, none of the psychosocial variables considered significantly differentiated the two groups of women. However, when the combined effect of some psychosocial variables is considered, numerous significant interactions emerge. The variables which interact most frequently with each other and with the life events variables are: specific anxiety, coping style and general anxiety.