Anxiety during pregnancy and autonomic nervous system activity: A longitudinal observational and cross-sectional study

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25463469
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Lifelong developmental nursing
• Research Institution: Aichi Medical University (2014-2016); Nagoya University (2013)
• Principal Investigator: TANABE KEIKO 愛知医科大学, 看護学部, 教授 (40508959)
• Research Collaborator: MIZUNO Taeko
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 妊娠期 / 自律神経活動 / 精神的ストレス / 縦断研究

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Objectives：To assess the longitudinal change in autonomic nervous system activity during pregnancy and to elucidate the association between anxiety during pregnancy and autonomic nervous system activity.Design：Longitudinal observational and cross-sectional study.Participants：Pregnant Japanese women, 20 years or older, at 16-19 gestational weeks with a singleton fetus and normal pregnancy. Exclusion criteria: chronic physiological or psychological disorders, alcohol consumption, smoking, and obstetric or medical complications. Fourteen participants were excluded, leaving 67 study subjects.Conclusions：Anxiety during pregnancy affected autonomic nervous activity; it increased sympathetic activity and decreased parasympathetic activity. This change in autonomic nervous system activity may be one of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying psychological disorders and pregnancy complications.

Free Research Field

母性看護学