• myGriffith
    • Staff portal
    • Contact Us⌄
      • Future student enquiries 1800 677 728
      • Current student enquiries 1800 154 055
      • International enquiries +61 7 3735 6425
      • General enquiries 07 3735 7111
      • Online enquiries
      • Staff phonebook
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Griffith Theses
    • Theses - Higher Degree by Research
    • View Item
    • Home
    • Griffith Theses
    • Theses - Higher Degree by Research
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

  • All of Griffith Research Online
    • Communities & Collections
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • This Collection
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • Statistics

  • Most Popular Items
  • Statistics by Country
  • Most Popular Authors
  • Support

  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Admin login

  • Login
  • Biology and Environment, Mothers and Infants: Linking Stress Physiology, Depression, Anxiety and Attachment

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Warner_2013_02Thesis.pdf (1.535Mb)
    Author(s)
    Warner, Judith C.
    Primary Supervisor
    Zimmer-Gembeck, Melanie
    Other Supervisors
    Perkins, Tony
    Year published
    2013
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The last two decades have seen research on early life experiences expand to include the prenatal environment and, more specifically, examination of the effects of prenatal maternal mental health on foetal and infant development. Cortisol, the hormonal end product of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis, has been identified as one mechanism associated independently with stress, pregnancy and mental health, which can account for changes during foetal development. In the postpartum, these early life experiences may serve as protective or risk factors for the infant. The longitudinal study conducted here examined ...
    View more >
    The last two decades have seen research on early life experiences expand to include the prenatal environment and, more specifically, examination of the effects of prenatal maternal mental health on foetal and infant development. Cortisol, the hormonal end product of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis, has been identified as one mechanism associated independently with stress, pregnancy and mental health, which can account for changes during foetal development. In the postpartum, these early life experiences may serve as protective or risk factors for the infant. The longitudinal study conducted here examined nulliparous pregnant women (N = 40, Mage = 30.5, SD = 5.27) and their infants commencing during the first trimester of pregnancy until 12 months after birth, with the aim of identifying potentially modifiable mother-infant characteristics associated with mothers' mental health, infant stress physiology and attachment. The longitudinal study was subdivided into four studies. First, in Study 1A, concurrent and prospective associations between maternal stress (cortisol and self-report of daily stress), coping, and mental health were examined across the three trimesters of pregnancy. Mothers completed questionnaires and gave saliva samples during each trimester of pregnancy and overall the findings showed the important role of coping in modulating baseline cortisol levels and anxiety in the face of daily stressors during pregnancy.
    View less >
    Thesis Type
    Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
    Degree Program
    Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (PhD ClinPsych)
    School
    School of Applied Psychology
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/1186
    Copyright Statement
    The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
    Item Access Status
    Public
    Subject
    Prenatal maternal mental health
    Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis
    Pregnancy
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/365334
    Collection
    • Theses - Higher Degree by Research

    Footer

    Disclaimer

    • Privacy policy
    • Copyright matters
    • CRICOS Provider - 00233E

    Tagline

    • Gold Coast
    • Logan
    • Brisbane - Queensland, Australia
    First Peoples of Australia
    • Aboriginal
    • Torres Strait Islander