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Producción Científica, The present study explored and compared the link between resilience and pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety, employing two structural equation models. One model focused on pregnant women before the outbreak of the pandemic, and the other on pregnancies throughout the pandemic. For this purpose, a total sample of 690 women during their pregnancy were collected: the Pre-Pandemic Group (P-PG) was composed of 341 pregnant women evaluated prior to the pandemic; and 349 pregnant women assessed at the time of the pandemic constituted the Pandemic Group (PG). The resilience, pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology of the women were assessed. For both samples, resilience was found to lower levels of pregnancy-specific stress, as well as general perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology. Furthermore, pregnancy-specific stress and perceived stress showed a covariance relationship and, that these, in turn, increased the anxiety. Moreover, the PG showed greater levels of pregnancy-specific stress, anxiety, somatisations, and obsessions-compulsions, while the P-PG presented higher perceived stress levels., Publicación en abierto financiada por el Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Castilla y León (BUCLE), con cargo al Programa Operativo 2014ES16RFOP009 FEDER 2014-2020 DE CASTILLA Y LEÓN, Actuación:20007-CL - Apoyo Consorcio BUCLE

Background and objectives The appearance of a highly contagious disease forced the confinement of the population in almost all parts of the world, causing an increase in psychological problems, with pregnant women being a particularly vulnerable group to suffer negative consequences. The aim of this research was to check which confinement or psychological stress variables are related to the increase of anxious and depressive symptoms in pregnant women, as a consequence of the pandemic caused by the COVID-19. Materials and methods The sample was composed of 131 pregnant women who experienced the confinement imposed by the Government of Spain on March 14, 2020. Sociodemographic, obstetric, confinement related and psychological variables were collected. Results Perceived stress, pregnancy-specific stress, as well as insomnia are predictive variables in most anxious (obsessions and compulsions, anxiety and phobic anxiety) and depressive symptoms related to COVID-19. Conclusions It is important to focus future psychological interventions in this population on stress control and sleep monitoring, since these variables influence the increase of anxiety and depression.

Antecedentes y objetivos La aparición de una enfermedad altamente contagiosa obligó a confinar a la población en casi todo el mundo, ocasionando el aumento de problemática psicológica, siendo las mujeres embarazadas un grupo especialmente vulnerable a sufrir consecuencias negativas. El objetivo de esta investigación fue comprobar qué variables de confinamiento o estrés psicológico están relacionadas con el aumento de la sintomatología ansiosa y depresiva en mujeres embarazadas, como consecuencia de la pandemia ocasionada por la COVID-19. Materiales y métodos La muestra estuvo compuesta por 131 mujeres embarazadas que vivieron el confinamiento impuesto por el Gobierno de España el 14 de marzo de 2020. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, obstétricas, relacionadas con el confinamiento y variables psicológicas. Resultados El estrés percibido, estrés específico del embarazo, así como el insomnio son variables predictoras en la mayoría de síntomas ansiosos (obsesiones y compulsiones, ansiedad y ansiedad fóbica) y depresivos relacionados con la COVID-19. Conclusiones Es importante destinar futuras intervenciones psicológicas en esta población al control del estrés y monitorización del sueño, ya que estas variables influyen en el incremento de ansiedad y depresión.

Due to an absence of maternal stress being measured in routine prenatal care by clinicians, prenatal stress has become a serious problem which is associated with poorer obstetric outcomes, as well as worse maternal and infant health. For that reason, the aim of this study was the translation, validation and adaptation of Prenatal Distress Questionnaire Revised (NuPDQ) in a Spanish sample.Three-hundred and seventy-one pregnant women were assessed using the NuPDQ, the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The NuPDQ was translated into Spanish by the backtranslation method and administered to participants.A confirmatory factor analysis revealed the established unidimensional structure to be a poor fit to data with the Spanish version. An exploratory factor analysis suggested a five-factor structure with 14 items. The instrument had good reliability, convergent and discriminant validity psychometric properties.The five-factor 14-item NuPDQ is useful to assess pregnancy-specific stress in Spanish pregnant women. It may be appropriate to use this instrument in order to identify pregnant women with high pregnancy-specific stress to try to prevent negative consequences derived from those high levels.

Producción Científica, The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the population's levels of stress and anxiety due to its contagious nature and the uncertainties generated by its novelty. One population that is especially vulnerable to these psychological consequences are pregnant women. This is why the objective of this study was to test the efficacy of an online stress management programme of a cognitive behavioural nature on pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Spain. The trial was controlled and randomised, with a total of 207 pregnant women divided into three groups: the Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy group (o-CBT) (N = 70); the Online Psychological Support group (o-PS) (N = 69); and the Usual Care group (UC) (N = 68). To test the therapy's efficacy, the women's resilience, perceived stress, pregnancy-specific stress and psychopathological symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention. The o-CBT and o-PS consisted of a programme of 8 group sessions (one per week). The results showed that pregnant women who participated in the o-CBT group presented lower rates of pregnancy-specific stress and perceived stress, as well as greater resilience and lower anxiety, depression and obsessions-compulsions symptoms. These data show the efficacy of the treatment programme and thus confirm the importance of implementing these types of interventions during a woman's pregnancy, especially over periods of major stress, such as during a pandemic., Junta de Andalucía - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project A-CTS-229-UGR18), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (grant 18/00617)

This study explores the perception of social and educational quality of life in minors with rare diseases (RDs). Two meta-analyses were performed, applying the random effects model. Results: Regarding the social Quality of Life, the meta-sample consisted of k = 40 samples, with a total population of 1943 children (mean age = 9.42 years), of whom 687 (35.3%) were girls, 615 (31.4%) were boys and 641 (33%) did not report their sex. The effect size was large (mean size = 7.68; p < 0.000; 99% Confidence Interval; lower limit = 7.22; upper limit = 8.14). The results of the meta-regression and model analysis showed the importance of the measurement instrument (Paediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory and Prototypes of the Quality of life) and the dissimilarity of perception among caregivers. The nationality and the type of RD were not relevant. With respect to the educational Quality of Life, the meta-sample consisted of k = 19 samples, with 699 minors (mean age = 10.3 years), of whom 266 (38%) were girls, 242 (34.6%) were boys and 191 (27.4%) did not report their sex. The effect size was large (mean size = 7.15; p < 0.000; 99% CI; lower limit = 6.35; upper limit = 7.94). The meta-regression and comparison of models showed that the type of RD was essential. The measurement instrument was a moderating variable, especially the Parent version Paediatric Quality-of-Life Inventory. This study reveals the need for further research on RDs and their social–educational effects.

To translate and validate a Spanish-language version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) and describe key measurement properties.A cross-sectional instrument validation design examining factor structure, validity and reliability.Three public hospital sites in Spain.202 women who had given birth within the past four weeks provided complete questionnaire data for analysis.Measures included the Spanish version of the BSS-R (S-BSS-R) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The tri-dimensional measurement model of the BSS-R was found to offer a good fit to Spanish data. Known-groups discriminant validity was found to be excellent with women experiencing a non-intervention delivery having higher S-BSS-R scores (p 0.05) compared to those having an intervention. Women who had no pain control were found to have greater S-BSS-R total and S-BSS-R women's attributes and stress experienced sub-scale scores compared to those who received pain control (p 0.05). Total scale internal reliability was also found to be acceptable. Evidence for good divergent and convergent validity was also found across total and sub-scale S-BSS-R scores.The S-BSS-R was found to have generally good to excellent psychometric properties and represents a valid and reliable translation of the original version of the BSS-R for use in Spanish-speaking populations. The development of the S-BSS-R enables comparison of birth satisfaction with international study data where the BSS-R is used.The relationship of both delivery type and pain control to birth satisfaction represent important areas for further research.

Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Junta de Andalucia, Grant/Award Number: A-CTS-229-UGR18; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Grant/Award Number: 18/00617, Objective: To compare the postpartum psychopathological symptoms of women who gave birth before the pandemic with those who gave birth during the pandemic. Methods: A total of 212 women participated in the study, of which 96 gave birth before the pandemic and 116 during the pandemic. Psychopathological symptoms, postpartum depression, perceived stress, and resilience were evaluated. Results: Women who gave birth during the pandemic had higher scores on somatization, obsessions and compulsions, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism. In addition, perceived stress was the common predictor of an increase in these symptoms. Conclusion: Postpartum is a complicated period in a woman's life. Many psychological adaptations take place and women may be subject to psychological alterations during this period. In addition, women who gave birth during the COVID-19 crisis may show greater psychological vulnerability, due to the specific situation experienced during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in the increase in psychopathological symptoms after childbirth. Detecting possible symptoms postpartum plays a crucial role, because it allows intervening and preventing the development of psychopathologies., Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Junta de Andalucia A-CTS-229-UGR18, European Commission, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities 18/00617

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) affects 3.1-6.3% of women after childbirth. The City Birth Trauma Scale (City-BiTS) is a questionnaire designed to evaluate and diagnose this disorder, according to the DSM-5 criteria, including the following groups of symptoms characteristic of post-traumatic stress: re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and hyperarousal. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish-language version of this questionnaire (City-BiTS-S), based on a community sample of Spanish women. A total of 207 mothers, recruited at three health centres in southern Spain, completed the City-BiTS-S questionnaire and provided sociodemographic and obstetric data. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the data replicated the two-factor structure reported in previous studies that explained 47.9% of the variance: Factor 1 of general symptoms, and Factor 2 of birth-related symptoms. Both City-BiTS-S (Cronbach’s α = 0.90) and the two factors (Cronbach’s α for Factor 1 = 0.89; Cronbach’s α for Factor 2 = 0.82) presented high internal consistency. Rasch analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of the two factors as valid subscales of the PP-PTSD. It also confirmed that the item about ‘Not being able to remember details of the birth’ should be reviewed. Rasch analysis also suggested the item ‘Flashbacks to the birth and/or reliving the experience’ should be reworded in the Spanish version. In conclusion, the City-BiTS-S presents appropriate psychometric properties to measure symptoms of postpartum_PTSD. Nevertheless, further research is recommended to confirm its validity in a clinical population and in different medical approaches to the birth process.

Stress during pregnancy has been widely studied and associated to different variables, usually with negative results for the health of the mother and the newborn, such as having a higher risk of suffering postpartum depression, premature birth, obstetrics complications or low birthweight, among others. However, there are not many lines of research that study the role that the sex of the baby plays on this specific stress and vice versa. Thus, the main objective was to analyse the relationship between the sex of the offspring and the stress of the mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy. In order to achieve this, 108 women had their biological stress measured (trough hair cortisol levels) and psychological stress evaluated (the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PSS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PDQ) and the Stress Vulnerability Inventory (IVE)). The results revealed significant differences in maternal hair cortisol levels in the first trimester based on the sex of the baby they had given birth to (t = −2.04; P < 0.05): the concentration of the hormone was higher if the baby was a girl (164.36: 54.45-284.87 pg/mg) than if it was a boy (101.13:37.95-193.56 pg/mg). These findings show that the sex of the future baby could be conditioned, among many other variables, by the mother´s stress levels during conception and first weeks of pregnancy. Further research is needed in this area to support our findings., Frontier Project “A-CTS-229-UGR18” of the Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Junta de Andalucía, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, FPU program, reference number 18/00617, (Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, FPI Program, reference number BES-2016-077619

Producción Científica, Background: The global pandemic has affected the psychological health of the population, including pregnant women. Due to the difficulty of offering conventional therapies to reduce stress in this population, studies are needed to show the effect of online therapies. Therefore, the objective was to test the effect of online cognitive behavioural therapy in pregnant women during the pandemic on the main variables of stress and psychopathology. Methods: The sample consisted of 16 pregnant women who participated in a weekly cognitive behavioural intervention for 8 weeks. Prenatal concerns, general stress, stress vulnerability, resilience and psychopathology were assessed. Results: The results show a reduction in prenatal concerns, perceived stress, stress vulnerability and psychopathology, as well as an increase in resilience. Conclusions: Online cognitive behavioural intervention may be effective in pregnant women, so it is important to conduct a randomised controlled trial to certify these findings., Junta de Andalucía y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) - (Project A-CTS-229-UGR18), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades - (FPU 18/00617)

Events that occur during fetal and perinatal life can have consequences on the health and disease of the offspring. The pioneering work on the "Fetal Programming Hypothesis" focused on pregnant women exposed to a great famine that occurred in the Netherlands at the end of World War II. The intrauterine environment of the babies during that famine caused them to low birthweight and determined the appearance of cardiovascular diseases in themselves when they reached adulthood, a risk that was transmitted even to the following generation. In addition to the general stress that a pregnant woman may suffer as a result of the death of a family member, suffering a war or natural disaster such as the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, there is another specific type of stress that refers exclusively to the pregnancy process; this is the pregnancy specific-stress. Pregnancy-specific stress is capable of sensitively predicting negative maternal and neonatal outcomes. This type of stress refers to the specific stress of pregnant women related to medical problems, the health of the newborn, the changes that the pregnancy will produce in their social relationships, prematurity, physical changes of pregnancy and fear of labor and birth. The objective of this article was to offer an updated information on pregnancy-specific stress and its consequences for maternal and neonatal health. Thus, we also proposed to offer strategies that midwives and psychologists can use to reduce pregnancy-specific stress levels. In conclusion, midwives and psychologists can work together to reduce pregnancy-specific stress levels.Los eventos que ocurren durante la vida fetal y perinatal pueden tener consecuencias sobre la salud y la enfermedad del neonato y del adulto. Los trabajos pioneros sobre la “Hipótesis de la Programación Fetal“ se centraron en embarazadas expuestas a una gran hambruna que ocurrió en Holanda al final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. El ambiente intrauterino de los bebés durante esa hambruna condicionó que nacieran con un bajo peso y determinó la aparición de enfermedades cardiovasculares en ellos mismos al llegar a la edad adulta, riesgo que se trasmitió incluso a la siguiente generación. Además del estrés general que pueda sufrir una embarazada como consecuencia de la muerte de un familiar, sufrir una guerra o un desastre natural como la pandemia por el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, existe otro tipo de estrés concreto y referido exclusivamente al proceso de embarazo: el estrés específico del embarazo. El estrés específico del embarazo es capaz de predecir de manera sensible resultados negativos maternos y neonatales. Este tipo de estrés se refiere al estrés concreto de las embarazadas en referencia a problemas médicos, la salud del recién nacido, los cambios que el embarazo va a producir en sus relaciones sociales, la posibilidad de un parto prematuro, los cambios físicos del embarazo y el miedo al parto y nacimiento. El objetivo de este artículo fue ofrecer información actualizada sobre el estrés específico del embarazo y sus consecuencias para la salud materna y neonatal. Así mismo, nos propusimos ofrecer estrategias que los profesionales sanitarios (incluidas las matronas) y los profesionales de la Psicología pudieran usar para reducir los niveles de estrés específico del embarazo. Como conclusión, afirmamos que las matronas y los profesionales de la Psicología pueden trabajar conjuntamente para reducir los niveles de estrés específico del embarazo.

This work was supported by the Frontier Project "ACTS229UGR18" of the Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business and University of the Junta de Andalucia, cosupported by funds/European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - a way to build Europe. Beside, Mr. Jose Antonio PuertasGonzalez has been awarded with an individual research grant (Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, FPU program, reference number 18/00617) ., The aim was to examine the psychological effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women, as well as the factors influencing these effects. The study design was cross-sectional and the participants were 200 pregnant women. The first group called the Pandemic Group (PG) included 100 women who were evaluated with psychological assessment instruments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second group titled Pre-Pandemic Group (PPG) consisted of 100 women who were evaluated prior to the pandemic. Perceived stress, prenatal concerns and psychopathological symptoms were evaluated and compared. Pandemic Group scored significantly higher than Pre-Pandemic Group in the depression dimension of the SCL-90, in the phobic anxiety dimension, and in the Perceived Stress Scale. In addition, insomnia, along with having recently suffered the loss of a loved one explained 25% of the score variance in the depression dimension of the SCL-90. Insomnia also explained 13% of the variance of the results found in the Perceived Stress Scale. The fear of contagion by COVID-19 increased the scores obtained in the phobic anxiety dimension, explaining 11% of the variance. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic could produce an increase in psychopathological symptomatology and stress, which can lead to negatively affecting pregnant women's mental health., Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Business ACTS229UGR18, Junta de Andalucia, European Commission, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, FPU program 18/00617

The pandemic caused by COVID-19, at a psychological level, can cause an increase in levels of stress and anxiety due to the fear of contagion and its consequences. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to these psychological consequences. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral stress control program in reducing psychological stress and increasing resilience in pregnant women, which ended at the begining of the confinement due to COVID-19 in Spain.The study included 22 pregnant women who were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (GT) consisted of 11 participants and the control group (GC) also consisted of 11 participants. Participants were recruited from the Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio in the province of Granada (Spain), where the weekly cognitive behavioral intervention was also carried out, which was implemented between January 22 and March 11, 2020. They used the assessment instruments: Pregnancy Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), Perceived Stress Scale (EEP-14), Inventory of Vulnerability to Stress (IVE) and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). A mixed ANOVA of repeated measures 2*2 was performed, with the variable between groups having two levels (CG and GT), and the within-subject having two time periods (pre and post).The repeated measures ANOVA analysis showed group*time interaction effects between the therapy group and the control group and the CD-RISC scores (FIt can be affirmed that cognitive behavioral intervention in pregnant women, administrated prior to confinement in Spain and during the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in increased levels of resilience in this population.La pandemia provocada por la COVID-19, a nivel psicológico, puede producir un aumento en los niveles de estrés y ansiedad por el miedo al contagio y sus consecuencias. Un grupo especialmente vulnerable a dichas consecuencias psicológicas es el de mujeres embarazadas. Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar la eficacia de un programa de control del estrés, de carácter cognitivo-conductual, en la reducción de estrés psicológico y el aumento de la resiliencia en mujeres embarazadas, que finalizó en el momento de la instauración del confinamiento por la COVID-19 en España.El estudio quedó constituido por veintidós mujeres embarazadas que fueron divididas en dos grupos de forma aleatoria: once constituyeron el grupo experimental (GT) y once el grupo control (GC). Las participantes fueron reclutadas del Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio de la provincia de Granada (España), donde también se llevó a cabo la intervención cognitivo-conductual de carácter semanal, que se implementó entre el 22 de enero y el 11 de marzo de 2020. Se emplearon los siguientes instrumentos de evaluación: Cuestionario de Preocupaciones Prenatales (PDQ), Escala de Estrés Percibido (EEP-14), Inventario de Vulnerabilidad al Estrés (IVE) y Escala de Resiliencia de Connor y Davidson (CD-RISC). Se realizó un ANOVA mixto de medidas repetidas 2*2, teniendo la variable entre grupos dos niveles (GC y GT), y la variable intrasujeto dos momentos temporales (pre y post).El análisis ANOVA de medidas repetidas mostró efectos de interacción grupo*tiempo entre los grupos de terapia y control y las puntuaciones del CD-RISC (FSe puede afirmar que la intervención cognitivo-conductual en mujeres embarazadas, impartida de manera previa al confinamiento en España y durante la pandemia provocada por la COVID-19, ha provocado un incremento de los niveles de resiliencia en dicha población.

Background: Through the culture of thinness, increasingly promoted in our society as a beauty canon, it is not surprising that the number of people affected by eating disorders is increasing. Objective: This research aims to study the relationship between non-suicidal self-injuries and nuclear aspects of eating disorders specified along with this article. Methods: The sample consisted of 60 women diagnosed with anorexia and bulimia. Questionnaires assessing impulsivity, body satisfaction, alexithymia, body attitude and self-esteem were administered. Participants with non-suicidal self-harm were compared with those without it, and participants with anorexia with and without self-harm and participants with bulimia with and without self-harm were compared. Results: Differences were found in body dissatisfaction= 5.71; p ≤0.01), body attitudes= 4.80; p ≤0.02), self-esteem= 14.09; p ≤0.00) and impulsivity (t= 3.39; p ≤0.01) between participants with and without non-suicidal self-harm. Conclusions: These are key factors for the clinical area in the treatment of eating disorders to prevent the presence of self-harm, as it allows focusing the treatment target on those aspects such as dissatisfaction and impulsivity, which are key in the development of self-harm. Resumen Introducción: A través de la cultura de la delgadez, cada vez más promovida en nuestra sociedad como canon de belleza, no es de extrañar que este aumentado el número de personas afectadas por Trastornos de Conducta alimentaria. Objetivo: Estudiar la relación entre las autolesiones no suicidas y aspectos nucleares del trastorno de conducta alimentaria que se especifican a lo largo de este artículo. Métodos: La muestra ha sido formada por 60 mujeres diagnosticadas de anorexia y bulimia. Se administraron cuestionarios que evaluaban la impulsividad, satisfacción corporal, alexitimia, actitud corporal y autoestima. Se compararon aquellas participantes que presentaban autolesiones no suicidas con las que no lo presentaban, además se compararon participantes con anorexia con y sin autolesiones y participantes con bulimia con y sin autolesiones. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias en insatisfacción corporal = 5,71; p ≤0.01), en actitudes corporales= 4.80; p ≤0.02), autoestima= 14.09; p ≤0.00) e impulsividad, (t= 3.39; p ≤0.01) entre participantes con y sin autolesiones no suicidas. Conclusiones: Estos son factores clave para la clínica en el tratamiento de los trastornos de conducta alimentaria para prevenir la presencia de autolesiones, ya que permite enfocar el objetivo del tratamiento a aquellos aspectos como la insatisfacción e impulsividad, que son claves en el desarrollo de autolesiones.

Our objective was to examine the feasibility of hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) as a biomarker to predict clinical pregnancy outcomes and investigate its potential associations with perceived anxiety, resilience, and depressive symptoms. A total of 43 participants were assessed using HCC, the state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), resilience scale (RS), and the depression subscale of the symptom checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R). Participants were approached at their second consultation with the reproductive endocrinologist (T1), before scheduling their IVF cycle, and then 12 weeks after (T2), at their post-transfer visit with the study coordinators, before the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) pregnancy test. The logistic regression model revealed that HCC at T2 predicted 46% of a positive pregnancy test [R2 = 0.46, (&szlig, = 0.11, p &lt, 0.05)]. Pregnant women had higher levels of resilience at T2 (M = 149.29, SD = 17.56) when compared with non-pregnant women at T2 (M = 119.96, SD = 21.71). Significant differences were found between both groups in depression at T2 (t = 3.13, p = 0.01) and resilience at T2 (t = &minus, 4.89, p = 0.01). HCC might be a promising biomarker to calculate the probability of pregnancy in women using assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Background: Maternal stress during pregnancy can affect fetal development during certain sensitive periods. Objective: To longitudinally assess maternal hair cortisol levels during pregnancy, and the postpartum along with neonatal hair cortisol levels that could be associated with infant neurodevelopment at six months of age. Methods: A sample of 41 pregnant women longitudinally assessed during the first, second, and third trimester and the postpartum, along with their 41 full-term neonates participated in this study. Hair cortisol levels were assessed from participants. Infant neurodevelopment was assessed by means of the Bayley Scale of Infants Development, Third Edition at age six months. Results: Maternal hair cortisol levels in the first and second trimester accounted for 24% and 23%, respectively, of variance of infant gross motor development (p &lt, 0.05). Maternal hair cortisol levels during the postpartum accounted for 31% of variance of infant cognitive development (p &lt, 0.05), and 25% of variance of infant gross motor development (p &lt, 0.05). Neonatal hair cortisol levels accounted for 28% of variance of infant gross motor development (p &lt, 0.05). Conclusions: The preconception and prenatal time are sensitive periods related to infant neurodevelopment along with the cortisol levels surrounding the fetus while in the womb. Pregnant women could be assessed for hair cortisol levels while attending a prenatal appointment.

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC), as a novel promising method to retrospectively measure hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation, is being increasingly studied. We tested the relationships between HCC and a range of possible confounding variables in a Spanish sample of healthy adults and pregnant women.The number of healthy adults who participated in the study was 529, being 270 males and 259 females, with a combined mean age of 37.88 years (SD = 15.66). Additionally, a separate sample of 62 pregnant women was also recruited with a mean age of 32.95 (SD = 3.67), and in the first trimester of pregnancy. Each participant was interviewed before the study to obtain sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, and a hair sample was taken from the posterior vertex of the head, cut as close to the scalp as possible. Assuming the average growth rate of head hair is 1 cm per month, a 3-cm segment was analysed, in order to measure the cortisol concentrations from a three-month period. For the pregnant women, hair samples for each trimester of pregnancy were analysed.The mean hair cortisol concentration was 127.91 (111.52) pg/mg for the general sample. The variables of age, education, employment status, use of hair dyes, use of oral contraceptives, and physical exercise had a significant relation to HCC. When adjusted for further variables, only education and physical exercise remained statistically significant. When including the use of oral contraceptives and only with respect to females, only physical exercise remains statistically significant. For the subsample of pregnant woman, the mean hair cortisol concentration was 334.51 (409.77) pg/mg for the first trimester, 302.18 (270.24) pg/mg for the second trimester, and 331.31 (295.46) pg/mg for the third trimester of pregnancy. None of the assessed confounding variables (age, body mass index, previous miscarriages, employment status, hair dyes, dependent children and physical exercise), except education level, was related to HCC.In this sample of healthy Spaniards, results suggested an association between HCC and physical exercise and educational level. In pregnant women, the prevalence of HCC was higher than in non-pregnant woman, and was related to educational level. This study emphasises the need to determine the relationship between HCC and confounders such as sociodemographic and lifestyle variables in the general population and specific groups formed by individuals such as pregnant women.

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC), as a novel promising method to retrospectively measure hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation, is being increasingly studied. We tested the relationships between HCC and a range of possible confounding variables in a Spanish sample of healthy adults and pregnant women. In this sample of healthy Spaniards, results suggested an association between HCC and physical exercise and educational level. In pregnant women, the prevalence of HCC was higher than in non-pregnant woman, and was related to educational level. This study emphasises the need to determine the relationship between HCC and confounders such as sociodemographic and lifestyle variables in the general population and specific groups formed by individuals such as pregnant women., This research is part of a doctoral thesis. It has been economically supported by the "PSI2015-63494-P" I+D Project of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and FEDER

Resumen Introducción: el índice de masa corporal (IMC) pregestacional afecta a la salud de la madre durante y después del embarazo, y se relaciona con un aumento del riesgo a sufrir diabetes gestacional, preeclampsia o muerte fetal. Además, el IMC pregestacional elevado aumenta los niveles de ansiedad, estrés y depresión, lo que conlleva al aumento de riesgo de aborto, bajo peso al nacer y prematuridad. Objetivos: comprobar si existen diferencias en estrés, síntomas psicopatológicos y variables fisiológicas durante el embarazo, entre embarazadas con IMC pregestacional normal e IMC pregestacional elevado. Métodos: han participado 156 mujeres embarazadas evaluadas longitudinalmente durante los tres trimestres de embarazo divididas en dos grupos: grupo con IMC pregestacional normal (n = 115) y grupo con IMC pregestacional elevado (n = 41). Se midieron niveles de estrés, síntomas psicopatológicos, hipertensión y glucosa. Resultados: los resultados mostraron que existían diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos en estrés específico del embarazo y en las subescalas del SCL-90-R: depresión, ideación paranoide y la escala de síntomas generales en el primer trimestre; en el segundo trimestre, en estrés específico del embarazo y subescalas (somatizaciones, obsesión compulsión, sensibilidad interpersonal, depresión, ansiedad, ideación paranoide y en las escalas generales; y en estrés percibido) y las subescalas somatizaciones, ansiedad y en la escala SP en el tercer trimestre. También se encontraron diferencias entre ambos grupos en tensión arterial diastólica en el primer trimestre, y en tensión arterial sistólica y diastólica en el tercer trimestre. Conclusiones: el IMC pregestacional elevado se relaciona con mayor estrés psicológico y con síntomas psicopatológicos y fisiológicos durante el embarazo.