Study Examining Stress During Pregnancy

Coping With Stress During Pregnancy

Researchers at UVa Health System are interested in how women experience and deal with stress during pregnancy. Participants will be randomly assigned either to engage in coping strategies on one's own or to receive 6 weeks of relaxation training. Researchers will examine how coping strategies affect the course of the pregnancy and the health of the infant

Participants will be asked to fill out questionnaires and complete some tasks that require concentration as heart rate and other biological signals are monitored. Participants will also be asked to provide samples of saliva a few times during 1 day. These tasks will be repeated 3 times during pregnancy and participants will be asked to complete questionnaires at 6 months postpartum

A stress-reduction workshop will be offered to all participants at the completion of the study.

Participants will be paid for study completion

Inclusion Criteria:

• beginning of the 2nd trimester of pregnancy
• feel stressed or overwhelmed
• do not yet have any children

Exclusion Criteria:

• more than 1 miscarriage
• currently receiving medication for anxiety or depression