The psychological background of pregnancy outcome: a critical evaluation of research

Abstract

This paper concentrates on the scientific attempts to find psychological interpretations of pregnancy outcome. The author presents a critical discussion of the literature based on an extensive evaluation undertaken during 1988. The aim of the analysis was to clarify the state-of-the-art and choices of methodologies in studies exploring and identifying the non-medical factors behind pregnancy outcome. Three distinctive psychology based approaches are found, which are based on personality theory, psychosocial theory and life-event theory. These bases argue for very different causal contexts of pregnancy outcome and are, therefore, according to the author's view, very important to recognize, particularly when it comes to occupational health research on work environment and pregnancy outcome.