Psychosocial job strain and risk of congenital malformations in offspring—a Danish National cohort study

Abstract

Objective To investigate if maternal exposure to psychosocial job strain at work (high demands and low control) measured by questionnaire early in pregnancy (median week 15) is associated with malformations in the offspring.Design Population-based cohort study.Setting The Danish National Birth Cohort.Population A cohort of 60 386 singleton children with full information on mother's occupational status, exposure to psychosocial job strain and all covariates during pregnancy.Methods Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds of congenital malformations as a function of job strain with adjustment for maternal age, body mass index, parity, smoking, alcohol use, manual versus nonmanual work, maternal serious disease and gestational age at interview.Main outcome measures Circulatory malformation, musculoskeletal malformation or any malformation.Results Logistic regression analyses, both crude and adjusted, indicated no associations between working under high strain and giving birth to a child with circulatory malformation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.75-1.44), musculoskeletal malformation (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.71-1.10) or any malformation (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.85-1.15). Supplementary analyses including restriction to first-borns and a stratified analysis with respect to manual and nonmanual work did not change the results.Conclusions Association between exposure to high job strain during pregnancy and elevated risk of circulatory, muscle and any malformations is not supported by this study.

The Relationship between Maternal Employment Status and Pregnancy Outcomes

“…In another study, no relationship was found between psychological stresses of working mothers until 15 weeks (even with age and type of job controlled) and infant’s skeletal and cardiovascular abnormalities ( Larsen et al, 2014 ; A. D. Larsen et al, 2013 ). Maternal exposure to allergens can afflict their children with asthma by the age of 7 years, disregarding child’s gender ( Bajeux et al, 2014 ; Christensen et al, 2013 ).…”

Posicionamento da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia para Gravidez e Planejamento Familiar na Mulher Portadora de Cardiopatia – 2020

“…The risk of developing complications is not related to work activity or to the psychosocial stress of work. 120 However, demands and working conditions should be evaluated individually in women with limiting heart disease or obstetric situations, such as preeclampsia and IUGR. Changes or adaptations in work activities, reduced stress at work, or increased rest and relaxation periods are often beneficial measures, especially if the condition worsens or limiting symptoms appear.…”

Risk Factors for Working Pregnant Women and Potential Adverse Consequences of Exposure: A Systematic Review

“…As Lee et al ( 4 ) point out, the gestational period brings about a series of physiological, physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that facilitate adequate foetal development and that in certain cases, especially when the pregnancy is advanced, there may be certain conditions in the working environment that limit the pregnant’s ability to work. It is precisely this line that has been the focus of some studies such as the one by Larsen et al ( 5 ) or by Katz ( 6 ), among others, whose research has aimed at analysing the risks existing in the workplace and how these can affect the normal development of pregnancy. In fact, certain working conditions such as heavy physical work, prolonged standing during the working day, carrying loads, among others, have been related to higher rates of adverse effects during pregnancy ( 7 ), as well as specific risks such as those derived from chemical products, thus requiring careful risk assessment ( 8 ).…”