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Lean on me: Effects of social support on low socioeconomic‐status pregnant women
Author(s) -
ByrdCraven Jennifer,
Massey Amber R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
nursing and health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1442-2018
pISSN - 1441-0745
DOI - 10.1111/nhs.12043
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , stressor , rumination , social support , psychology , pregnancy , affect (linguistics) , distress , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , medicine , psychiatry , environmental health , cognition , population , social psychology , communication , biology , genetics
This study identified how close relationships are related to low‐income pregnant women's ability to cope and overall health. Previous research has shown that stress during pregnancy is related to long‐term negative physical and psychological health outcomes for both the mother and the infant. Lower socioeconomic status has been related to higher morbidity and mortality across the lifespan. Women typically rely on close relationships for social support to help reduce stress. However, stress levels can be elevated when women engage in co‐rumination. Co‐rumination is defined as excessive problem discussion with negative‐affect focus. Thirty‐one low‐income pregnant women from central O klahoma, USA, reported their daily stressors, social support, communication habits with friends and family, and general health in a series of questionnaires at a prenatal visit. The results revealed that daily stressors, co‐rumination with friends, and the relationship with the baby's father were related to physical pain and depressive symptoms. The results suggested that specific social support dynamics, such as co‐rumination, during pregnancy have implications for the health of low‐income mothers and their infants.