Smoking status in pregnancy is associated with daily stressors and low well-being

Abstract

Abstract Cigarette smoking in pregnancy is one of the main, avoidable hazards for fetal health. The present study was designed to investigate in pregnant nulliparous women the relationship between smoking behaviour and self-reported daily stressors, as well as psychological and somatic well-being. A sample of 396 eligible participants was studied in a prospective design. Questionnaires on psychosocial factors were completed in each trimester of pregnancy. Smoking behaviour was categorised as follows: (1) Never Smokers (n = 235), (2) Former Smokers (n = 60) and (3) Current Smokers (n = 101), subdivided in Continued Smokers (n = 67) and Relapsers (n = 21), while 13 were not assigned to either group because of fluctuating smoking behaviour. Multivariate analysis revealed that Former Smokers and Current Smokers repotted significantly more daily stressors than Never Smokers (p < 0.0001) and rated these as more severe (p < 0.0001). Current Smokers expressed significantly more depressive (p < 0.0001), anxious (p < 0.001), and somatic symptoms (p < 0.001) than Former Smokers and Never Smokers. Social interactions and satisfaction with social support were similar in the three groups. No differences were found between the Continued Smokers and Relapsers. The results of this study suggest that increased exposure to daily stressors and decreased well-being may prevent pregnant women from successfully quitting smoking and hence may have indirect negative effects on foetal health. Key Words: Smokingdaily stressorswell-beingpregnancypsychosocial factors.