Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Amy Sickel

Abstract

AbstractAntenatal stress disrupts autonomic nervous system (ANS) equilibrium within the neuro-cardio-utero-placental (NCUP) structure perpetuating treatable conditions of depressive-based gestational hypertension disorders. The present ANS-based study of the NCUP system investigated the effect of coherence-based stress resilience (CBSR) post-4-week intervention. This quasi-experimental research design involved experimental (n = 8) and waitlist control (n = 3) conditions. Controlling for pretest values, quantitative pre-post methodology was used to assess the effect of CBSR to evaluate change in variables. Resultant of small sample size, significant findings are considered tentatively. Heart rate variability (p = 0.044), dehydroepiandrosterone/ dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (p = 0.142), Pregnancy Experience Scale (p = 0.155), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (p = 0.171), positive reappraisal (p = 0.117), systolic (p = 0.102) and diastolic (p = 0.084) maternal blood pressure (MBP) yielded statistical significance (p < .20) for pre-post variables and large substantive significance. Stress index (p = 0.068), parasympathetic (p = 0.149) and sympathetic (p = 0.015) nervous systems, and low frequency (p = 0.185) yielded statistical significance for pre-post variables and large substantive significance. The current study supports prior findings that higher sympathetic and lower parasympathetic control may increase MBP of gestational hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia. Continued study of noninvasive treatment for gestational hypertension, stress, and depression is imperative because a generational feedback loop of sequential depression is connected with the leading cause of antenatal death. Consequently, NCUP equilibrium resultant of CBSR is positive social change for global generations.

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