Looking on the Bright Side Ups Women's Odds of healthy delivery

Another study highlights the power of positive thinking when it comes to
wellness. It seems that women with high-risk pregnancies who have
pessimistic attitudes are at an elevated risk of having an adverse birth
outcome.

The study, which enrolled 129 women with medically high-risk
pregnancies, found that optimism neutralized the negative effects of
prenatal maternal stress (PNMS). Specifically, women who had a positive
outlook regarding their impending birth were more likely to deliver
infants who weighed more than those delivered to pessimistic mothers.
Optimists were also more likely than pessimists to exercise, which is
known to lower the risk of preterm delivery.

Health Psychology November 2000;19:586-95.
http://www.apa.org/journals/hea.html

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© 1996-2003 Craig M. Anderson, D.C.