Differential pathways to preterm delivery for sexually abused and comparison women
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Two distinct conditions, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis disruptions and maternal alcohol use, have been linked to preterm delivery. These conditions have also been cited as potential sequelae of childhood abuse. Studies have linked childhood abuse to increased rates of preterm delivery but mechanisms explaining this association are unclear. METHODS: This prospective study compared preterm birth rates across offspring born to mothers who were sexually abused in childhood (OA; N = 67) and offspring born to nonabused comparison mothers (OC; N = 56). RESULTS: Preterm delivery rates were higher for the OA group (Odds = 2.80 +/- 1.44, p < .05). Maternal prenatal alcohol use mediated this relationship, but HPA axis functioning did not. Heightened maternal cortisol was significantly related to preterm status, but only for the OC group. CONCLUSIONS: Results support the hypothesis that childhood abuse is a risk-factor for preterm delivery, however pathways are likely different for women with and without histories of sexual abuse.
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Only three studies have examined childhood stress effects on prenatal HPA activity; one supported lasting biological effects and two contested them.
“To our knowledge, only three studies have examined the effect of childhood stress on prenatal HPA activity, with a potential role of lasting biological effects supported (n = 295; Moog et al., 2016) and contested (n = 123; Noll et al., 2007; n = 58; Karakash et al., 2016).”
From Childhood stress and birth timing among African American women: cortisol as biological mediator (2017) · cites this paper as Noll et al., 2007
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- Authors
- Noll, J. G., Schulkin, J., Trickett, P. K., Susman, E. J., Breech, L., & Putnam, F. W.
- Affiliations
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
- University of Southern California (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2007-06-14
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1238-1248
- ISSN
- 0146-8693 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-735X
- OpenAlex
- W2112012055
- Cited by
- 71
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Pediatric Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (R01 MH048330)
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH048330)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K01HD41402, K01HD041402)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Keywords
- preterm birth, child sexual abuse, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, maternal cortisol, maternal stress
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Alcoholism, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, District of Columbia, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Infant, Newborn, Obstetric Labor, Premature, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Risk, Stress, Psychological, Incidence, Multivariate Analysis
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