Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Schnitzlein, H.
Stress Reactivity of Physically Active Pregnant Women: Social Support, Physical Activity, and its Effect on the Arousal of the Autonomic Nervous System
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medical University of Graz; 2014. pp. 116
[OPEN ACCESS]
FullText
- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Müller Hannah Deborah
- Advisor:
- Egger Josef Wilhelm
- Trapp Eva-Maria
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Objective: The body-mind unity theory (as theoretical basis for the biopsychosocial medicine) postulates that every process takes place simultaneously on different system levels (physiological, cognitive/emotional and eco-social). In light of the “bps” model, our aim was to describe the effect of physical activity during pregnancy as well as other psychosocial resilience factors on the physiological and psychological system level. We investigated the general vegetative arousal, stress coping strategies and the social support profile, for relevance of physical activity in pregnancy to stress-related variables. Methods: In our pilot study we examined 36 healthy women in the 2nd trimester, measuring Heart Rate Variability (HRV) at rest for autonomic arousal, a stress coping strategy questionnaire in a standardized testing procedure, and non-standardized variables of social support through an interview and questionnaire. Results: We found that normally active women tended to see their partner support more positively than their physically active counterparts (p=0.01). Of the HRV variables, VLF of the HRV (p=0.06), standard deviation (p=0.05) and variance of HR (p=0.07) indicated a slight difference to the normally active women. A tendency to use the stress coping strategy situation control (p =0.06) distinguished the two groups from each other in their coping strategy profile. Additional analysis of the population portrayed interactions of age, parity, gravity, time in gestation and complications in pregnancy with improved stress coping. Conclusions: We found several indicators that physical activity may modulate heart rate variables and stress coping in pregnant women. However, the mechanisms of why and how are still unclear. The thesis of increased social support in physically active women as well as an increased general usage of positive stress coping strategies could not be confirmed.