Stress and stressful experiences happen in every pregnancy. We are studying how daily stressors and hassles as well as bigger stressors affect mothers and their babies during pregnancy and after the babies are born. We want to understand how stress changes during pregnancy (early, mid, late) and how women cope with that stress.

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Reactions to stress happen in two ways—through thoughts and actions and how the body reacts. We will ask you questions about your thoughts and actions, and we will measure your body’s reaction to stress by examining stress hormones in your saliva.​

You will come to our offices 3 times during pregnancy and once when your baby is 6 months old, 2 1/2 years old, and 4 years old. We will also schedule a home visit when your baby is 1 month old. At the office visits, you will answer some questions, provide saliva samples (spitting into a tube), and role-play a brief speech. You will also be asked to complete 2 days of saliva sampling at home after each interview. One important part of the study is filling out a brief online questionnaire about stress during each week of the pregnancy. Your confidentiality will be protected to the extent allowed by law. You can earn up to $1080 in cash if you complete all study activities.

Investigator: Alytia Levendosky, PhD

Investigator: Anne Bogat, PhD

Investigator: Joe Lonstein, PhD

Study Manager: Jewelian Fairchild, BS