Table 1.

Variables, Variable Definitions, Sample Frequencies, and Bivariate Associations (Base n = 614)

			Bivariate Associations With Outcomes
Variable	Definition	Frequencies (n)	% with High Internal Control of Birth Outcomes	% with High Preconceptional Control	% High Control on Both
Dependent Variables
Internal Control of Birth Outcomes Scale	Score on 4-item scale measuring internal control for future baby's health (see text):
	≤Median score: low internal control	44% (273)
	>Median score: high internal control	56% (341)
	Individual items: “There is nothing I can do to make sure my child is born healthy.”
	Strongly disagree	67% (413)
	Disagree, agree, or strongly agree “It is my job as a mother to make sure my child is born healthy:”	33% (200)
	Strongly agree	60% (370)
	Agree, disagree, or strongly disagree	40% (243)
	“I could make very few choices that would affect my child's health at birth:”
	Strongly disagree	58% (355)
	Disagree, agree, or strongly agree	42% (259)
	“I could do many things to make sure my child is born healthy:”
	Strongly agree	67% (410)
	Agree, disagree, or strongly disagree	33% (205)
Preconceptional Control	“There are things I can do before I become pregnant to make sure my child is born healthy:”
	Strongly agree	54% (332)
	Agree, disagree, or strongly disagree	46% (282)
High internal control (both measures)	High internal control on both measures	45% (275)
	Other combination of responses	55% (336)
Birth Experiences
Prior live birth	Any prior live birth	48% (295)	58	57	46
	No prior live birth	52% (319)	54	52	44
Any prior preterm birth, low birthweight (LBW) baby, or birth defect	Any baby born preterm, at LBW, or with a birth defect (see text)	10% (59)	51	53	42
		90% (552)	56	54	45
	No prior adverse outcome
Mother had adverse birth outcome	Mother had any preterm birth or LBW baby	17% (100)	62	58	48
	Mother did not have adverse outcome	83% (494)	54	53	44
Health Status and Stress
SF-12 physical component	Norm-based score (see text)
Summary	≤54.51	44% (269)	49**	51	39**
	>54.51	56% (341)	61	57	50
SF-12 mental component	Norm-based score (see text)
Summary	≤51.37	55% (334)	54	52	43
	>51.37	45% (276)	59	57	48
Depressive symptoms	Score on 6-item scale measuring symptoms of depression in past week (see text)
	Depression risk	18% (110)	50	54	41
	No depression risk	82% (503)	59	54	46
Psychosocial hassles	Score on 12-item scale measuring degree to which common hassles are perceived as stressful in past 12 months (see text)
	≤16 (median): low stress	46% (282)	53	55	45
	>16 (median): high stress	54% (332)	58	53	45
Health Care Access
Regular provider	“Do you have a regular doctor or other health professional you usually go to when you are sick or want medical advice?”
	Yes	84% (516)	56	54	45
	No	16% (97)	52	54	44
Health insurance gap	Any time in past 12 months without health insurance coverage of any kind?
	Yes	23% (144)	54	47*	42
	No	77% (469)	56	56	46
Sociodemographics
Age (yrs)	18−34	90% (547)	54**	51***	43**
	35−45	10% (64)	72	75	64
Race/ethnicity	White, non-Hispanic	87% (533)	57*	56	47
	Othera	13% (78)	45	44	35
Marital status	Married or living with a partner	64% (392)	60**	59**	49*
	Never married, widowed, divorced/separated	36% (218)	48	46	38
Employment status	Employed part- or full-time	76% (464)	57	54	46
	Not employed	24% (149)	50	53	44
Educational level	High school graduate or less	34% (209)	42***	43***	32***
	Some college or more	66% (405)	63	60	52
Poverty	Poverty or near poverty	33% (171)	55	53	44
	Not poverty	67% (342)	60	59	50
Religious service attendance	<4 times in a typical month	67% (412)	53	52	42
	≥4 times in a typical month	33% (201)	60	59	50

^aAbout half of the “other” category is black, non-Hispanic.

^*Bivariate association significant p < .05 (χ² test).

^**Bivariate association significant p < .01(χ² test).

^***Bivariate association significant p < .001(χ² test).