Stress, symptoms, self-monitoring confidence, well-being, and social support in the progression of preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationships of psychological stress, preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms, confidence in self-monitoring, well-being, and perceived social support with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension disease progression in outpatient women. Women with mild and severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension were compared for differences in these variables.

DESIGN

A retrospective, correlational, and comparative design.

SETTING

Postpartum units of three urban hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred postpartum women with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Psychological stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms by the Preeclampsia/Gestational Hypertension Checklist, confidence in self-monitoring by the Self-Confidence in Self-Monitoring Scale, well-being by the Index of Well-Being, and social support by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List.

RESULTS

Women with worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension reported a significantly higher number of symptoms than women with mild preeclampsia/gestational hypertension (p= .02). Psychological stress was significantly higher (p= .04) in women with worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension. There were no differences in well-being, self-confidence in self-monitoring, or perceived social support between women with mild preeclampsia/gestational hypertension and those with worsening preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Worsening/severe preeclampsia/gestational hypertension was associated with increasing psychological stress and a higher number of preeclampsia/gestational hypertension symptoms.