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Marci Lobel

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My research focuses primarily on prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) and its impact on birth outcomes such as low birthweight and preterm delivery, the largest causes of infant mortality. Because pregnancy entails life changes which affect the emotions, behaviors, and physical condition of pregnant women, it represents a rich arena for the study of stress, coping, and their effects. My research shows that PNMS and related psychosocial factors such as low social support increase a woman's risk of experiencing an adverse birth outcome. Through a series of federally-funded studies known as The Stony Brook Pregnancy Project, my graduate students and I have examined factors that reduce or exacerbate the impact of PNMS on birth outcomes, including health behaviors, coping, optimism, racism, and interpersonal violence. I also conduct basic research on social comparison processes, examining ways that pregnant and non-pregnant individuals use social comparison to cope with stress, and how our self-views influence our selection of social comparison targets.

Primary Interests:

  • Applied Social Psychology
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Gender Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Interpersonal Processes
  • Self and Identity
  • Applied Social Psychology
  • Emotion, Mood, Affect
  • Gender Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Interpersonal Processes
  • Self and Identity

Journal Articles:

  • Exline, J. J., & Lobel, M. (1999). The perils of outperformance: Sensitivity about being the target of a threatening upward comparison. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 307-337.
  • Giscombe, C. W., & Lobel, M. (2005). Explaining disproportionately high rates of adverse birth outcomes among African Americans: The impact of stress, racism, and related factors in pregnancy. Psychological Bulletin, 131, 662-683.
  • Hamilton, J. G., & Lobel, M. (2008). Types, patterns, and predictors of coping with stress during pregnancy: Examination of the Revised Prenatal Coping Inventory in a diverse sample. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 29, 97-104.
  • Lobel, M. (1994). Conceptualizations, measurement, and effects of prenatal maternal stress on birth outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 17, 225-272.
  • Lobel, M., Cannella, D. L., Graham, J. E., DeVincent, C. J., Schneider, J., & Meyer, B. A. (2008). Pregnancy-specific stress, prenatal health behaviors, and birth outcomes. Health Psychology, 27, 604-615.
  • Lobel, M., & DeLuca, R. S. (2007). Psychosocial sequelae of cesarean delivery: Review and analysis of their causes and implications. Social Science and Medicine, 64, 2272-2284.
  • Lobel, M., DeVincent, C. J., Kaminer, A., & Meyer, B. A. (2000). The impact of prenatal maternal stress and optimistic disposition on birth outcomes in medically high risk women. Health Psychology, 19, 544-553.
  • Lobel, M., Dias, L., & Meyer, B. (2005). Distress associated with prenatal screening for fetal abnormality. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 28, 65-76.
  • Lobel, M., Dunkel-Schetter, C., & Scrimshaw, S. C. M. (1992). Prenatal maternal stress and prematurity: A prospective study of socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Health Psychology, 11, 32-40.
  • Lobel, M., Yali, A. M., Zhu, W., DeVincent, C. J., & Meyer, B. A. (2002). Beneficial associations between optimistic disposition and emotional distress in high-risk pregnancy. Psychology and Health, 17, 77-95.
  • Saunders, T. A., Lobel, M., Veloso, C., & Meyer, B. A. (2006). Prenatal maternal stress is associated with delivery analgesia and unplanned cesareans. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 27, 141-146.
  • Stanton, A. L., Lobel, M., Sears, S., & DeLuca, R. S. (2002). Psychosocial aspects of selected issues in women's reproductive health: Current status and future directions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 751-770.
  • Taylor, S. E., & Lobel, M. (1989). Social comparison activity under threat: Downward evaluation and upward contacts. Psychological Review, 96, 569-575.
  • Woods-Giscombe, C., & Lobel, M. (2008). Race and gender matter: A multidimensional approach to conceptualizing and measuring stress in African American women. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 173-182.
  • Yali, A. M., & Lobel, M. (2002). Stress resistance resources and coping in pregnancy. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 15, 289-309.

Courses Taught:

  • Psycholog Aspects of Women's Reproductive Lives
  • Psychology of Gender
  • Psychology of Women's Health
  • Social Comparison and Self-Evaluation
  • Social Psychology
  • Stress and Coping
  • Psycholog Aspects of Women's Reproductive Lives
  • Psychology of Gender
  • Psychology of Women's Health
  • Social Comparison and Self-Evaluation
  • Social Psychology
  • Stress and Coping

Marci Lobel
Department of Psychology
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500
United States

Phone: (631) 632-7651
Fax: (631) 632-7876

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Last edited by profile holder: December 22, 2009
Visits since June 9, 2001: 14,574