Journal of Applied Sciences1812-56541812-5662Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jas.2009.193.196ShafizadehM. MehdizadehM. 1200991The aim of present investigation was to study the relationship
between mothers` distress and fetal growth. In this correlational study,
110 pregnant women selected randomly and completed Depression Anxiety
Stress Scale (DASS) before ultrasound measurement of fetus. The results
of structural equation model have shown that the overall model has been
accepted (χ2 = 36.4, df = 24, p>0.05). In fact, by
increasing mothers` stress and anxiety, the fetus heart rate was increased
and it decreased the height, weight, head circumference and width and
femur length of fetus. Therefore, one of the environmental variables that
have negative effect on the fetus growth is mother distress, because it
can stimulate the fetal autonomic nervous system through the mediating
of heart rate.]]>Alvardo, R., E. Medina and W. Aranda,2002130561568Callen, P.W.,20004th Edn.,Diego, M.A., N.A. Jones, T. Field, M. Hernandez-Reif and S. Schanberg et al.,200668747753Field, T., M. Diego and M. Hernandez-Reif,2008118277289Field, T., M. Diego and M. Hernandez-Reif,200811895103Field, T., M. Diego, M. Hernandez-Reif, B. Figueiredo and A. Ascencio et al.,200825E1116Field, T., M. Diego, M. Hernandez-Reif, B. Figueiredo, S. Schanberg and C. Kuhn,200629268275Field, T. and M. Diego,2008111181205Field, T., M. Diego, M. Hernandez-Reif, K. Gil and Y. Vera,2005115423429Gallahue, D. and J. Ozmon,20025th Edn.,Groome, L.J., M.J. Swiber, L.S. Bentz, S.B. Holland and J.L. Attrbury,199516391396Haywood, K. and N. Catchell,20012nd Edn.,Jones, A., K.M. Godfrey, P. Wood, C. Osmond, P. Goulden D.H. Phillips,20069118681871Malina, R.M., C. Bouchard and O. Bar-Or,20032nd Edn.,pp: 30-35pp: 30-35Monk, C., W.P. Fifer, M.M. Myers, R.P. Sloan, L. Trien and A. Hurtado,2000366777Monk, C., M.M. Myers, R.P. Sloan, L.M. Ellman and W.P. Fifer,2003243238Monk, C., R.P. Sloan and M.M. Myers,200443283290Negress, Y., R. Goldenberg, S. Cliver and J. Hauth,200685277285Rahman, A., J. Bunn, H. Lovel and F. Creed,2007115481486Sjostrom, K., L. Valentin, T. Thelin and K. Marsal,20026787100Wadhwa, P.D., C. Dunkel-Schetter, A. Chicz-DeMet, M. Porto and C.A. Sandman,199658432446Winstock, M.,200519296308