Studying the impact of the psychosocial work environment on pregnancy outcome: A review of methodological issues

Abstract

This paper reviews methodological considerations pertinent to our understanding of the impact of work-related stress on a range of pregnancy outcomes. Despite the importance of this issue to working women, the existing research is relatively scant, results are somewhat contradictory, and reasons for this may lie in the methodological challenges associated with this area. The paper considers the definitional problems inherent in pregnancy outcome as well as work stress research; the nature of possible mechanisms for any effect, and of the direct and indirect evidence available; the nature of evidence available on the impact of psychosocial stress in arenas other than work; the difficulties of simply comparing working and non-working women; and some methodological issues in recent research into work stress and pregnancy.