INTRODUCTION regnancy is a phase that demands Pphysical contribution and psychosocial role transition from a woman especially the ones, who conceive for the first time (primigravada). This phase is replete with amalgam of pleasure and blues. The physical facets of this phase have been frequently studied but empirical investigation on psychosocial impact of first-time conception is scanty. Thus, the current research has been laid out to unveil psycho-social predictors of anxiety, stress and depression during first-time pregnancy. This has been reported that at least one in ten pregnant women suffer from spells of 1 depression, anxiety or stress. Perceived stress has been known to affect first time pregnant woman in so many unknown ways as this comes in subtle waves form and may linger in a diffused state of anxiety and 2 depression. This has been illustrated that when a pregnant woman is stressed, several biological changes may also occur, including elevation of stress hormones and various other health 2 related adverse outcomes in the body. These stressors induced reactions are combined with biochemical changes of pregnancy phase and may elicit adverse outcomes. These changes also spill over to psychosocial life of pregnant female. Pregnant women may experience changed eating and sleeping patterns, mood reactions and agitated responses. Her relationships with others start spoiling. Sometimes, she may be found going through anxiety, stress and depression due to different perceptual mind sets of her family members, expectations from her spouse, insecurity ascribed to future plans and 2 due to her personality types. Majority of women are not aware sometimes that sudden changes in their mood and anxiety state can be harmful for their babies. The chances of miscarriage, physical discomforts in the first trimester, unattractiveness of the body in the second trimester, travelling, outside home job in the third trimester may emerge as conspicuous problems and anxieties in pregnant women 3 sometimes. Report of stress during pregnancy also multiply as this phase involves transition of many social roles and positions and there may occur phenomenon growth, change, poignancy, constant convulsions, enrichment, and challenges. The very fact that one has to adopt the responsibility of being mother is ORIGINAL ARTICLE 1 Assistant Professor, Institute of Applied Psychology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Email: drafsheenmasood@gmail.com 2 University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan 3 Institute of Applied Psychology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Date Submitted: April 24, 2016 Date Revised: September 25, 2017 Date Accepted: September 27, 2017 STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN WOMEN WITH PRIMIGRAVADA: A STUDY ON PAKISTANI WOMEN THIS ARTICLE MAY BE CITED AS: Masood A, Musarrat R, Mazahir S, Naz S. Stress, anxiety and depression in women with first time pregnancy: a study on Pakistani women. Khyber Med Univ J 2017; 9(3): 117-121. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: To examine psychosocial predictors of perceived stress, anxiety and depression in women with first-time pregnancy. METHODS: Sample included 80 women with first pregnancy within the age range of 19-31years, taken from major hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Measures comprised of Perceived Stress Scale, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and Pregnancy Phase Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: Mean age of the husbands was 29.04+3.94 years, mean duration of marriage was 17.74+14.06 years, and mean education duration was 12.99+3.32 years for wives and 13.86+2.26 years for husbands. Mean score of perceived stress, depression and anxiety was 28.91+5.48, 52.80+8.60 and 130.43+33.04 respectively. Age of the women and husband had significant positive relationship with perceived stress and depression (p<0.01). Model I 2 showed that anxiety emerged as significant predictor of stress (R =.45, 2 F=63.61, R =.45, p<0.01). Similarly, second model of perceived stress showed that anxiety and depression emerged as the significant predictors of 2 2 stress (R =.51, F=39.25, R =.07, p<0.01). The third model that marital 2 duration of the women as another predictor of stress (R =.54, F=29.22, 2 R =.03, p<0.01). The results showed a significant positive relationship between perceived stress, anxiety and depression. Age of the husband had significant positive relationship with perceived stress while it had no significant relationship with depression and anxiety of the women. CONCLUSION: Stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy are significantly correlated in first time pregnant women. Women from early age groups report greater anxiety, depression and stress during first time pregnancy. Depression has propensity to cause stress in first time pregnant women. KEY WORDS: Perceived Stress (Non-MeSH); Anxiety (MeSH); Depression (MeSH); Pregnancy (MeSH); Primigravada (MeSH). 1 2 3 3 Afsheen Masood , Rubab Musarrat , Shama Mazahir , Sadia Naz KMUJ 2017, Vol. 9 No.3 117