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Keeton VF, Hoffmann TJ, Goodwin KM, Powell B, Tupuola S, Weiss SJ. Prenatal exposure to social adversity and infant cortisol in the first year of life. Stress 2024; 27:2316042. [PMID: 38377153 PMCID: PMC11006384 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2316042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Exposure to social adversity has been associated with cortisol dysregulation during pregnancy and in later childhood; less is known about how prenatal exposure to social stressors affects postnatal cortisol of infants. In a secondary analysis of data from a longitudinal study, we tested whether a pregnant woman's reports of social adversity during the third trimester were associated with their infant's resting cortisol at 1, 6, and 12 months postnatal. Our hypothesis was that prenatal exposure to social adversity would be associated with elevation of infants' cortisol. Measures included prenatal survey reports of social stressors and economic hardship, and resting cortisol levels determined from infant saliva samples acquired at each postnatal timepoint. Data were analyzed using linear mixed effects models. The final sample included 189 women and their infants (46.56% assigned female sex at birth). Prenatal economic hardship was significantly associated with infant cortisol at 6 months postnatal; reports of social stressors were not significantly associated with cortisol at any time point. Factors associated with hardship, such as psychological distress or nutritional deficiencies, may alter fetal HPA axis development, resulting in elevated infant cortisol levels. Developmental changes unique to 6 months of age may explain effects at this timepoint. More work is needed to better comprehend the complex pre- and post-natal physiologic and behavioral factors that affect infant HPA axis development and function, and the modifying role of environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria F. Keeton
- Assistant Professor, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California, Davis, 2570 48 St., Sacramento, CA, USA 95817
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, CA Preterm Birth Initiative, USA
| | - Thomas J. Hoffmann
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Office of Research School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Kalisha Moneé Goodwin
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, CA Preterm Birth Initiative, USA
| | - Bree Powell
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, CA Preterm Birth Initiative, USA
| | - Sophia Tupuola
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, CA Preterm Birth Initiative, USA
| | - Sandra J. Weiss
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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Seo B, Nan H. Major Occupations and Private Insurance of Working Postpartum Women in Poverty in the United States, 2019. WOMEN'S HEALTH REPORTS (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2023; 4:497-505. [PMID: 37908637 PMCID: PMC10615075 DOI: 10.1089/whr.2023.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Background Although working postpartum women in poverty still have unmet medical needs, relevant research is lacking. Thus, we aimed to determine the five most frequent occupations of U.S. postpartum women in poverty and further examine whether the most frequent occupations are associated with poverty/being uninsured by an employer. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. We included women who had a job and gave birth within the last 12 months from a 2019 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample. To examine the associations between the most frequent occupations and being in poverty/uninsured through an employer/union, we used age- and race-adjusted and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. Results A total of 14.3% of working postpartum women lived in poverty, and their most frequent major occupations were sales and related work, followed by food preparation and serving-related work, office and administrative support work, health care support work, and cleaning and ground maintenance. A total of 51.2% of women in the most frequent major occupations were uninsured through an employer/union. Compared with women in other occupations, women in the most frequent major occupations had fewer working hours and weeks that included paid leave. In particular, cleaners and ground maintenance workers and food preparation and serving-related workers were most likely to be in poverty and uninsured through an employer/union. Conclusions Compared with other occupations, the most frequent occupations were more likely to be insecure and less likely to provide health insurance. Our U.S.-based study suggested that current policies regarding employee benefits needed to be improved especially for the most frequent major occupations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojung Seo
- Department of Epidemiology, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Hongmei Nan
- Department of Epidemiology, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Global Health, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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3
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Gompers A, Larson E, Esselen KM, Farid H, Dodge LE. Financial toxicity in pregnancy and postpartum. Birth 2023; 50:606-615. [PMID: 36807551 DOI: 10.1111/birt.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The financial burden of pregnancy in the United States can be high and is associated with worse mental health and birth outcomes. Research on the financial burden of health care, such as the development of the COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool, has been conducted primarily among patients with cancer. This study aimed to validate the COST tool and use it to measure financial toxicity and its impacts among obstetric patients. METHODS We used survey and medical record data from obstetric patients at a large medical center in the United States. We validated the COST tool using common factor analysis. We used linear regression to identify risk factors for financial toxicity and to investigate associations between financial toxicity and patient outcomes including satisfaction, access, mental health, and birth outcomes. RESULTS The COST tool measured two distinct constructs of financial toxicity in this sample: current financial toxicity and concern over future financial toxicity. Racial/ethnic category, insurance, neighborhood deprivation, caregiving, and employment were associated with current financial toxicity (P < 0.05 for all). Only racial/ethnic category and caregiving were associated with concern over future financial toxicity (P < 0.05 for all). Both current and future financial toxicity were associated with worse patient-provider communication, depressive symptoms, and stress (P < 0.05 for all). Financial toxicity was not associated with birth outcomes or keeping obstetric visits. CONCLUSIONS The COST tool captures two constructs among obstetric patients, current and future financial toxicity, both of which are associated with worse mental health and patient-provider communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Gompers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elysia Larson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katharine M Esselen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Huma Farid
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura E Dodge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Johnson L, Winter SC. Someone you can count on: Examining the mediating effect of social support on economic abuse and depression. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 72:3-14. [PMID: 37042840 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine whether social support mediated the relationship between economic abuse, a form of intimate partner violence, and mental health, specifically depression, among pregnant women. This cross-sectional study used a sample of 193 pregnant women living in the United States who participated in an online Qualtrics panel survey in January 2021. Hayes Process Macro was used to assess a mediation model. Economic abuse was associated with increased odds of depressive sympto ms and fewer perceived social supports. Social support mediated the relationship between economic abuse and depression. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed. Notably, research focused on economic abuse and efforts to respond to it need to pay particularly close attention to the role that social supports may play in survivor's overall well-being, as well as the impact that economic abuse may have on survivors' perceptions of social support. This may be particularly true for pregnant women experiencing economic abuse for whom social support-related interventions have yielded positive health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Johnson
- School of Social Work, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Harriett LE, Eary RL, Prickett SA, Romero J, Maddrell RG, Keenan-Devlin LS, Borders AEB. Adaptation of Screening Tools for Social Determinants of Health in Pregnancy: A Pilot Project. Matern Child Health J 2023:10.1007/s10995-023-03732-2. [PMID: 37316688 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03732-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Social determinants of health (SDOH) and stress during pregnancy may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this in the field pilot project was to develop a comprehensive screening tool by combining existing validated screeners. Additionally, implement use of this tool within routine prenatal visits and assess feasibility. METHODS Pregnant patients accessing prenatal care at a single site of an urban Federally Qualified Health Center were recruited during prenatal visits to complete a Social Determinants of Health in Pregnancy Tool (SIPT). SIPT combines a series of questions from existing and well-validated tools and consists of five domains: (1) perceived stress, (2) relationship and family stress, (3) domestic violence, (4) substance abuse, and (5) financial stress. RESULTS Between April 2018 and March 2019, 135 pregnant participants completed SIPT. Ninety-one percent of patients scored positive on at least one screener, 54% to three or more screeners. CONCLUSIONS Despite guidelines to screen for SDOH during pregnancy there is no universal tool. Our pilot project demonstrated the concurrent use of adapted screening tools where participants reported at least one area of potential stress, and that linking to resources at the time of a visit is plausible. Future work should examine if screening and point of care linkages of services improves maternal child outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Harriett
- PCC Community Wellness Center, 115 North Parkside Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60644, USA
| | - Rebecca L Eary
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., K Building, 2nd Floor, Suite 400F, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| | - Sarah A Prickett
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., K Building, 2nd Floor, Suite 400F, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Janedelie Romero
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NorthShore University Health System, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rebecca G Maddrell
- A.L. Burdick Family Medicine Center, 3 Erie Court Suite 6160, Oak Park, IL, 60302, USA
| | - Lauren S Keenan-Devlin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NorthShore University Health System and Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ann E B Borders
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NorthShore University Health System and Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Sosnowski DW, Ellison-Barnes A, Kaufman J, Hoyo C, Murphy SK, Hernandez RG, Marchesoni J, Klein LM, Johnson SB. Financial stress as a mediator of the association between maternal childhood adversity and infant birth weight, gestational age, and NICU admission. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:606. [PMID: 36997868 PMCID: PMC10064571 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15495-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To examine whether financial stress during pregnancy mediates the association between maternal exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and three birth outcomes (i.e., gestational age, birth weight, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit [NICU]). METHODS Data were obtained from a prospective cohort study of pregnant women and their infants in Florida and North Carolina. Mothers (n = 531; Mage at delivery = 29.8 years; 38% Black; 22% Hispanic) self-reported their exposure to childhood adversity and financial stress during pregnancy. Data on infant gestational age at birth, birth weight, and admission to the NICU were obtained from medical records within 7 days of delivery. Mediation analysis was used to test study hypotheses, adjusting for study cohort, maternal race, ethnicity, body mass index, and tobacco use during pregnancy. RESULTS There was evidence of an indirect association between maternal exposure to childhood adversity and infant gestational age at birth (b = -0.03, 95% CI = -0.06 - -0.01) and infant birth weight (b = -8.85, 95% CI = -18.60 - -1.28) such that higher maternal ACE score was associated with earlier gestational age and lower infant birth weight through increases in financial distress during pregnancy. There was no evidence of an indirect association between maternal exposure to childhood adversity and infant NICU admission (b = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.02-0.08). CONCLUSIONS Findings demonstrate one pathway linking maternal childhood adversity to a potentially preterm birth or shorter gestational age, in addition to low birth weight at delivery, and present an opportunity for targeted intervention to support expecting mothers who face financial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Sosnowski
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
| | | | - Joan Kaufman
- Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Human Health, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA
| | - Susan K Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Raquel G Hernandez
- Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Joddy Marchesoni
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Human Health, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA
| | - Lauren M Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Sara B Johnson
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
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7
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Barbe C, Ouy J, Boiteux-Chabrier M, Bouazzi L, Pham BN, Carrau-Truillet S, Hurtaud A. Exploring the impact of prior spontaneous miscarriage on stress among pregnant women during the first trimester: an observational study. BJGP Open 2023; 7:BJGPO.2022.0100. [PMID: 36517185 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpo.2022.0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spontaneous miscarriage (SM) is the most common complication of pregnancy. Its psychological repercussions are widely documented but few studies have investigated its effect on women's experience of a subsequent pregnancy. AIM To evaluate the impact of prior SM on the level of stress experienced by pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional, observational study, which was conducted between June and October 2021 in France. METHOD A self-report questionnaire was distributed to women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Stress was assessed using the Antenatal Perceived Stress Inventory to yield an overall score and a score for three dimensions ('medical and obstetric risks or fetal health'; 'psychosocial changes during pregnancy'; and the 'prospect of childbirth'). Women with a history of prior SM and those without were compared. RESULTS In total, 93 women were included; 63 without and 30 with a history of prior SM. Prior SM was not associated with the overall score. The score for the dimension 'medical and obstetric risks or fetal health' was significantly higher in women with prior SM (3.00±0.86 versus 2.34±0.80; β = 0.61 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 0.25 to 0.96]; P = 0.001). Prior SM was significantly associated with the items 'the baby's health' (P = 0.048) and 'the echography' (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION This study shows a significant impact of prior SM on the level of stress of pregnant women during the first trimester, particularly relating to the medical and obstetric risks or fetal health, underlining the need for appropriate psychological support to be provided to women who experience SM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Barbe
- Comité Universitaire de Ressources pour la Recherche en Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne UFR Médecine, Reims, France
- Laboratoire C2S (Cognition, Santé, Société), Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Justine Ouy
- Département de Médecine Générale, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, Reims, France
| | - Marie Boiteux-Chabrier
- Département de Médecine Générale, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, Reims, France
| | - Leïla Bouazzi
- Comité Universitaire de Ressources pour la Recherche en Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne UFR Médecine, Reims, France
| | - Bach-Nga Pham
- Comité Universitaire de Ressources pour la Recherche en Santé, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne UFR Médecine, Reims, France
| | - Sandra Carrau-Truillet
- Département de Médecine Générale, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, Reims, France
| | - Aline Hurtaud
- Département de Médecine Générale, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UFR Médecine, Reims, France
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Mirtabar SM, Pahlavan Z, Aligoltabar S, Barat S, Nasiri-Amiri F, Nikpour M, Behmanesh F, Taheri S, Nasri K, Faramarzi M. Women's worries about prenatal screening tests suspected of fetal anomalies: a qualitative study. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:66. [PMID: 36782219 PMCID: PMC9926685 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02211-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women with suspected fetal anomalies experience a great deal of stress following prenatal screening tests. The present study aimed to investigate women's worries about prenatal screening tests suspected of fetal anomalies. METHODS Through the use of qualitative content analysis, the reports of women whose prenatal screening tests were suspected of fetal anomalies were analyzed and the results were interpreted. The participants were selected from four public and private maternity care clinics of Babol, Iran, from December 2021 to January 2022, using targeted convenience sampling. Data were collected from 20 women aged 24 to 41 years old, who underwent prenatal screening tests and were suspected of fetal anomalies, using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. RESULTS The four main themes included the "causes of worries" (with sub-themes of challenge with spouse and relatives, medical diagnosis processes, previous unpleasant experiences, physical and mental problems, financial worries, and misinformation), "anxiety-coping styles" (with cognitive emotion-oriented, behavioral emotion-oriented, and problem-oriented sub-themes), "reactions to a possible diagnosis of anomaly" (with three sub-themes, namely concealment, extreme fear and worry, and denial), and "attribution of the cause of the anomaly" (with sub-themes of consanguine marriage, evil eyes, tendency to have a baby of a particular gender, a history of anomalies in the previous child, the spouse's medical illness, unplanned pregnancy, and high maternal anxiety). CONCLUSION Women with suspected fetal anomalies experience a great deal of stress, the most important reason for which is the "physician's uncertainty". "Sharing worries with relatives" was the most common style of coping with worries. Establishing emotional support and empathetic communication between midwives and physicians with pregnant women suspected of fetal anomalies were important ways to reduce their worries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyedeh Mahboubeh Mirtabar
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Research Clinical Psychology, Student Research Committee, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Zeynab Pahlavan
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Sajedeh Aligoltabar
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Shahnaz Barat
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center, Health Research Institue, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Fatemeh Nasiri-Amiri
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institue, Department of General Courses, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Maryam Nikpour
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Non-Communicable pediatric Disease Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Fereshteh Behmanesh
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institue, Department of General Courses, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Sina Taheri
- grid.411495.c0000 0004 0421 4102Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Khadijeh Nasri
- grid.468130.80000 0001 1218 604XDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Mahbobeh Faramarzi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institue, Department of General Courses, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Omowale SS, Gary-Webb TL, Wallace ML, Wallace JM, Rauktis ME, Eack SM, Mendez DD. Stress during pregnancy: An ecological momentary assessment of stressors among Black and White women with implications for maternal health. WOMEN'S HEALTH (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 18:17455057221126808. [PMID: 36148967 PMCID: PMC9510975 DOI: 10.1177/17455057221126808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress can lead to adverse physiological and psychological outcomes. Therefore, understanding stress during pregnancy provides insight into racial disparities in maternal health, particularly Black maternal health. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to describe (1) daily exposure to self-reported stress levels during pregnancy, and (2) sources of stress among participants that identified as Black or White using data collected via ecological momentary assessment. METHODS We leveraged survey data from the Postpartum Mothers Mobile Study, a prospective longitudinal study using ecological momentary assessment data collection methods to describe patterns of stress during pregnancy. This article is descriptive and documents patterns of self-reported stress levels and sources of stress. Frequencies and percentages of stress responses were computed to describe these patterns. RESULTS The sample (n = 296) was 27% Black (n = 78) and 63% White (n = 184). Results were based on at least one measurement of that stress level during pregnancy. A similar number of Black and White participants reported no stress during pregnancy. White (85%-95%) and Black (60%-70%) participants reported low to moderate levels of stress. Black participants (38%) and White participants (35%) reported experiencing high stress. Black and White participants reported similar sources of stress: stress from a partner, too many things to do, a baby or other children, and financial concerns. White participants reported work as a top stressor, and Black participants reported financial issues as a top source of stress. CONCLUSION This study provides insight into daily exposure to stress that has implications for maternal health. We described patterns of self-reported stress and sources of stress among Black and White participants. The daily exposures to stress reported by this sample exist within a context of root causes of structural inequities in education, health care, income, wealth, and housing that must be addressed to achieve maternal health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serwaa S Omowale
- California Preterm Birth Initiative,
University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology
& Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California San
Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA,School of Social Work, University of
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tiffany L Gary-Webb
- Department of Epidemiology, School of
Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - John M Wallace
- School of Social Work, University of
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mary E Rauktis
- School of Social Work, University of
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shaun M Eack
- School of Social Work, University of
Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dara D Mendez
- Department of Epidemiology, School of
Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Behavioral and Community
Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA,
USA,Division of General Internal Medicine,
School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Dara D Mendez, Department of Epidemiology,
School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 5130 Public Health, 130 De
Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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10
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Cheng S, Kuo CC, Chen HC, Lin MC, Kuo V. Effects of Workplace Gossip on Employee Mental Health: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Capital and Developmental Job Experience. Front Public Health 2022; 10:791902. [PMID: 35493358 PMCID: PMC9041444 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.791902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research has demonstrated the effects of workplace gossip on employees' work attitudes and behaviors. However, little emphasis has been placed on the psychological influence of workplace gossip on employees. The present study investigated the relationships among workplace gossip, psychological capital, and individual mental health. Data were collected in three waves from 222 full-time employees of a Taiwanese tourism company to explore the effect of workplace gossip on employees' mental health. The results suggested that workplace gossip was associated with employees' mental health through psychological capital. Moreover, developmental job experience plays a moderator role in the relationships among workplace gossip, psychological capital, and mental health. A moderated mediation model was also proposed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Cheng
- Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chih Kuo
- Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Chieh Chen
- School of Business, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaiyin, China
| | - Mei-Chi Lin
- Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Vincent Kuo
- Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Management Systems, Nottingham University Business School China, Ningbo, China
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11
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Johnson L. Exploring factors associated with pregnant women's experiences of material hardship during COVID-19: a cross-sectional Qualtrics survey in the United States. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:755. [PMID: 34749686 PMCID: PMC8573078 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04234-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the financial insecurity of women and their families globally. Some studies have explored the impact of financial strain among pregnant women, in particular, during the pandemic. However, less is known about the factors associated with pregnant women's experiences of material hardship. METHODS This cross-sectional study used a non-probability sample to examine the factors associated with pregnant women's experiences of material hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, 183 pregnant women living in the United States participated in an online Qualtrics panel survey. In addition to socio-demographic characteristics, individuals were asked about their finances and predictors of financial well-being, mental health symptoms, and intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences. Chi-square analysis and one-way ANOVA were used to examine whether women's experiences with material hardship and associated factors differed by income level (i.e., less than $20,000; $20,000 to $60,000; more than $60,000). Ordinary least squares regression was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted estimates. RESULTS Study findings showed that the majority of women in the sample experienced at least one form of material hardship in the past year. Individuals with an annual household income less than $20,000 reported the highest average number of material hardships experienced (M = 3.7, SD = 2.8). Compared to women with household incomes less than $20,000, women with incomes of more than $60,000 reported significantly fewer material hardships, less financial strain, and higher levels of financial support, economic self-efficacy, and economic-self-sufficiency. Women with incomes of $60,000 or more also reported significantly lower levels of psychological abuse, and a smaller percentage met the cut-off for anxiety. Economic self-sufficiency, financial strain, posttraumatic stress disorder, and economic abuse were all significantly associated with material hardship. CONCLUSIONS A contribution of this study is that it highlights the significant, positive association between economic abuse, a unique form of IPV, and material hardship among pregnant women during the pandemic. These findings suggest the need for policy and practice interventions that help to ameliorate the financial insecurity experienced by some pregnant women, as well as respond to associated bidirectional vulnerabilities (e.g., mental health symptoms, experiences of IPV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Johnson
- School of Social Work, Temple University, Ritter Annex Room 543, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
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12
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Tesfaye M, Chatterjee S, Zeng X, Joseph P, Tekola-Ayele F. Impact of depression and stress on placental DNA methylation in ethnically diverse pregnant women. Epigenomics 2021; 13:1485-1496. [PMID: 34585950 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the association between placental genome-wide methylation at birth and antenatal depression and stress during pregnancy. Methods: We examined the association between placental genome-wide DNA methylation (n = 301) and maternal depression and stress assessed at six gestation periods during pregnancy. Correlation between DNA methylation at the significantly associated CpGs and expression of nearby genes in the placenta was tested. Results: Depression and stress were associated with methylation of 16 CpGs and two CpGs, respectively, at a 5% false discovery rate. Methylation levels at two of the CpGs associated with depression were significantly associated with expression of ADAM23 and CTDP1, genes implicated in neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric diseases. Conclusion: Placental epigenetic changes linked to antenatal depression suggest potential fetal brain programming. Clinical trial registration number: NCT00912132 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Markos Tesfaye
- Section of Sensory Science & Metabolism (SenSMet), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism & National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Suvo Chatterjee
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7004, USA
| | - Xuehuo Zeng
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paule Joseph
- Section of Sensory Science & Metabolism (SenSMet), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism & National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Fasil Tekola-Ayele
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7004, USA
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Harville EW, Beitsch L, Uejio CK, Sherchan S, Lichtveld MY. Assessing the effects of disasters and their aftermath on pregnancy and infant outcomes: A conceptual model. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2021; 62:102415. [PMID: 34336567 PMCID: PMC8318346 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although many studies have examined broad patterns of effects on pregnancy and infant outcomes after disasters, the causes of adverse outcomes are not always clear. Disasters cause interrelated exposure to environmental pollutants, psychological stressors, and lack of health care, and interacts with other social determinants of health. This topical review examines the short- and long-term effects of disasters on pregnancy and how they are mediated by social, behavioral, and environmental effects. In the short term, disasters are associated with physical trauma, adverse environmental exposures, and unstable housing. In the longer term, disasters may lead to relocation, changes in family functioning, and negative economic effects. These aspects of disaster exposure, in turn, lead to lack of access to health care, increased stress and negative mental health outcomes, and negative behavioral changes, including smoking and substance use, poor nutrition, physical overexertion and limited activity, and reduction in breastfeeding. All of these factors interact with social determinants of health to worsen effects on the most vulnerable women, infants, and communities. Few interventions after disasters have been tested. With the increase in disasters due to climate change and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the models of effects of disasters and their human health consequences need increasing refinement, and, more importantly, should be applied to interventions that improve disaster prevention, mitigation, and response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily W Harville
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Leslie Beitsch
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
| | - Christopher K Uejio
- Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
| | - Samendra Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Maureen Y Lichtveld
- Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA; Currently Dean and professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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14
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Liu PY, Bell O, Wu O, Holguin M, Lozano C, Jasper E, Saleeby E, Smith L, Szilagyi P, Schickedanz A. Interest in Clinic-Based Financial Services among Low-Income Prenatal Patients and its Association with Health-Related Social Risk Factors. J Prim Care Community Health 2021; 12:21501327211024425. [PMID: 34130543 PMCID: PMC8212363 DOI: 10.1177/21501327211024425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Poverty and financial stress affect prenatal health and well-being as well as
early childhood development. This study sought to examine interest in
clinic-based financial services to address financial stress in low-income,
Medicaid-enrolled prenatal patients and its relationship with self-reported
social risks. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients at a large safety-net
prenatal clinic. Participants completed a written survey on interest in
linkage to financial services, poverty-related financial stress, difficulty
affording social needs, and interest in services to address material
hardships. We compared interest in financial and social needs services by
level of financial stress using multivariate regression. Results Respondents (N = 108) were entirely Medicaid-enrolled, with a majority
identifying as Hispanic/Latinx (57%) or Black/African American (20%).
Sixty-four percent indicated interest in connection to any of the financial
services surveyed. Interest was highest in employment (52%), savings and
budgeting (49%), job training/adult education (49%), and financial
counseling (48%) services. Individuals with high financial stress, compared
to those with low financial stress, expressed a higher level of interest in
financial services (aRR = 1.61 [95% CI 1.12-2.39]). Interest in financial
services was associated with difficulty affording social needs (aRR = 2.24
[95% CI 1.33-4.43]) and interest in services addressing social needs
(aRR = 1.45 [95% CI 1.13-1.92]). Conclusion In this study of low-income, Medicaid-insured prenatal patients, there was a
high degree of interest in clinic-based financial services. Integrating
financial services into prenatal health care appears to be an approach that
low-income patients would be interested in to directly address poverty and
financial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Y Liu
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Orly Bell
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Olivia Wu
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Monique Holguin
- Dworkin School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Erika Jasper
- California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA
| | - Erin Saleeby
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Lynne Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Peter Szilagyi
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Adam Schickedanz
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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15
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Jain D, Jain AK, Metz GAS, Ballanyi N, Sood A, Linder R, Olson DM. A Strategic Program for Risk Assessment and Intervention to Mitigate Environmental Stressor-Related Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in the Indian Population. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2021; 3:673118. [PMID: 36304060 PMCID: PMC9580833 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2021.673118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Problem: Global environmental stressors of human health include, but are not limited to, conflict, migration, war, natural disasters, climate change, pollution, trauma, and pandemics. In combination with other factors, these stressors influence physical and mental as well as reproductive health. Maternal stress is a known factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth (PTB); however, environmental stressors are less well-understood in this context and the problem is relatively under-researched. According to the WHO, major Indian cities including New Delhi are among the world's 20 most polluted cities. It is known that maternal exposure to environmental pollution increases the risk of premature births and other adverse pregnancy outcomes which is evident in this population. Response to the Problem: Considering the seriousness of this problem, an international and interdisciplinary group of researchers, physicians, and organizations dedicated to the welfare of women at risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes launched an international program named Optimal Pregnancy Environment Risk Assessment (OPERA). The program aims to discover and disseminate inexpensive, accessible tools to diagnose women at risk for PTB and other adverse pregnancy outcomes due to risky environmental factors as early as possible and to promote effective interventions to mitigate these risks. OPERA has been supported by the Worldwide Universities Network, World Health Organization (WHO) and March of Dimes USA. Addressing the Problem: This review article addresses the influence of environmental stressors on maternal-fetal health focusing on India as a model population and describes the role of OPERA in helping local practitioners by sharing with them the latest risk prediction and mitigation tools. The consequences of these environmental stressors can be partially mitigated by experience-based interventions that build resilience and break the cycle of inter- and-transgenerational transmission. The shared knowledge and experience from this collaboration are intended to guide and facilitate efforts at the local level in India and other LMIC to develop strategies appropriate for the jurisdiction for improving pregnancy outcomes in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divyanu Jain
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Divyanu Jain
| | - Ajay K. Jain
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and In-vitro Fertilization Center, Jaipur Golden Hospital, New Delhi, India
- IVF Center, Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar, India
| | - Gerlinde A. S. Metz
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Nina Ballanyi
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Abha Sood
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and In-vitro Fertilization Center, Jaipur Golden Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Rupert Linder
- Specialist for Gynecology, Obstetrics, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Birkenfeld, Germany
| | - David M. Olson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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16
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Kim P, Tribble R, Olsavsky AK, Dufford AJ, Erhart A, Hansen M, Grande L, Gonzalez DM. Associations between stress exposure and new mothers' brain responses to infant cry sounds. Neuroimage 2020; 223:117360. [PMID: 32927083 PMCID: PMC8291268 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to severe stress has been linked to negative postpartum outcomes among new mothers including mood disorders and harsh parenting. Non-human animal studies show that stress exposure disrupts the normative adaptation of the maternal brain, thus identifying a neurobiological mechanism by which stress can lead to negative maternal outcomes. However, little is known about the impact of stress exposure on the maternal brain response to infant cues in human mothers. We examined the association of stress exposure with brain response to infant cries and maternal behaviors, in a socioeconomically diverse (low- and middle-income) sample of first-time mothers (N=53). Exposure to stress across socioeconomic, environmental, and psychosocial domains was associated with reduced brain response to infant cry sounds in several regions, including the right insula/inferior frontal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus. Reduced activation in these regions was further associated with lower maternal sensitivity observed during a mother-infant interaction. The findings demonstrate that higher levels of stress exposure may be associated with reduced brain response to an infant’s cry in regions that are important for emotional and social information processing, and that reduced brain responses may further be associated with increased difficulties in developing positive mother-infant relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilyoung Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States.
| | - Rebekah Tribble
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States
| | - Aviva K Olsavsky
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States; University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine/Children's Hospital Colorado, 13123 E. 16th Avenue, CO 80045, United States
| | - Alexander J Dufford
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States
| | - Andrew Erhart
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States
| | - Melissa Hansen
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States
| | - Leah Grande
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States
| | - Daniel M Gonzalez
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, 2155 South Race Street, Denver, CO 80208-3500, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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Eick SM, Goin DE, Izano MA, Cushing L, DeMicco E, Padula AM, Woodruff TJ, Morello-Frosch R. Relationships between psychosocial stressors among pregnant women in San Francisco: A path analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234579. [PMID: 32530956 PMCID: PMC7292353 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant women who experience psychosocial stressors, such as stressful life events, poor neighborhood quality, and financial hardship, are at an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Yet, few studies have examined associations between multiple stressors from different sources, which may be helpful to better inform causal pathways leading to adverse birth outcomes. Using path analysis, we examined associations between multiple self-reported stressor exposures during and before pregnancy in the Chemicals in Our Bodies-2 study (N = 510), a demographically diverse cohort of pregnant women in San Francisco. We examined associations between eight self-reported exposures to stressors and three responses to stress which were assessed via interview questionnaire at the 2nd trimester. Stressors included: neighborhood quality, stressful life events, caregiving, discrimination, financial strain, job strain, food insecurity, and unplanned pregnancy. Perceived stress, depression, and perceived community status were included as indicators of self-reported stress response. Our model indicated that women who experienced discrimination and food insecurity had a 3.76 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.60, 5.85) and 2.67 (95% CI = 1.31, 4.04) increase in depression scale scores compared to women who did not experience discrimination and food insecurity, respectively. We additionally identified job strain and caregiving for an ill family member as strong predictors of increased depressive symptoms (β = 1.63, 95% CI = 0.29, 3.07; β = 1.48, 95% CI = 0.19, 2.70, respectively). Discrimination, food insecurity, and job strain also influenced depression indirectly through the mediating pathway of increasing perceived stress, although indirect effects were less precise. In our study population, women who experienced discrimination, food insecurity, job strain and caregiving for an ill family member had an increased number of depressive symptoms compared to women who did not experience these stressors. Results from our study highlight the complex relationships between stressors and stress responses and may help to identify possible mediating pathways leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Eick
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SME); (RM)
| | - Dana E. Goin
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Monika A. Izano
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Lara Cushing
- Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Erin DeMicco
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Amy M. Padula
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Tracey J. Woodruff
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SME); (RM)
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18
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Herbell K, Zauszniewski JA, Williams E. Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Demographically Diverse American Pregnant Women. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2020; 41:73-82. [PMID: 31770053 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1662145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a sensitive period of life where mental health is of utmost importance to the mother's and child's well-being peripartum and beyond. To better prevent and treat common mental health conditions such as depressive symptoms and perceived stress (defined in this study to encompass psychological and physiological (heart rate variability (HRV)) dimensions), it is crucial to examine and report differences in mental health outcomes among demographically diverse pregnant women. Therefore, the purpose of this secondary analysis (N = 79) was to determine if there are differences in mental health outcomes between pregnant women who differ across demographic factors, as well as to determine if demographic factors predict mental health outcomes when controlling for other demographic variables. Findings indicate that there were significant differences in depressive symptoms and perceived stress by all demographic factors except age. Marital status and total household income were the only significant predictors of depressive symptoms and perceived stress, respectively, when all other factors were controlled. There were no significant differences or correlations between demographic variables and HRV. Pregnant women may be predisposed to adverse mental health outcomes, illustrating the need for more refined interventions that are sensitive to pre-existing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclene A Zauszniewski
- Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Elizabeth Williams
- Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Conceptualization, measurement, and effects of pregnancy-specific stress: review of research using the original and revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire. J Behav Med 2019; 43:16-33. [PMID: 31183596 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-019-00068-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy-specific stress (PSS) arises from the numerous changes that women experience during pregnancy and from their concerns about childbirth and the health of their offspring. Prolonged or elevated maternal stress heightens risk for poor fetal, infant, and child outcomes. The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ) and its expanded successor, the revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ), were developed to assess PSS, but their psychometric properties and findings are not well-documented. We reviewed research using the PDQ (n = 45) or NuPDQ (n = 37). Results establish that PSS as measured by these instruments is common in pregnancy; PSS is associated with sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, perceptions of pregnancy, health behaviors, maternal health, and birth outcomes. The NuPDQ is an especially appropriate tool to assess PSS, with demonstrated reliability and convergent, concurrent, and predictive validity. The ability to assess PSS in a reliable and valid manner is critical to advance research and improve maternal and child health.
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20
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Lyons S, Arcara J, Deardorff J, Gomez AM. Financial Strain and Contraceptive Use Among Women in the United States: Differential Effects by Age. Womens Health Issues 2019; 29:153-160. [PMID: 30723058 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Low-income and young women experience disproportionately high rates of unintended pregnancy. Traditional measures of socioeconomic status may not be appropriate indicators of financial status, particularly during emerging adulthood. This study investigates the relationship between financial strain and contraceptive use, focusing on the differential effects by age group. METHODS Multinomial logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between financial strain and contraceptive use in a national sample of U.S. women ages 18-39 years (N = 932). Models were adjusted for income, employment status, and other sociodemographic characteristics and tested the interaction of financial strain and age group. RESULTS Women with high financial strain were less likely to use short-acting methods (compared with using no method) in the adjusted model; when the age and financial strain interaction was included, associations held only for women ages 18-24 and 25-29 years of age. Relative to contraceptive nonuse, women ages 18-24 years with high financial strain were less likely to use long-acting reversible (relative risk ratio [RRR], 0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.99) and short-acting hormonal (RRR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.00-0.18) methods. Women ages 25-29 with high financial strain were less likely to use short-acting hormonal (RRR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.05-0.87) and coital-specific (RRR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02-0.51) methods. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND/OR POLICY Young women may be vulnerable to the effect of high financial strain on contraceptive nonuse. Providers working with this group should consider incorporating financial strain into screening tools to identify patients who may need extra attention in contraceptive decision-making conversations. Antipoverty programs could also have a positive effect on effective contraceptive use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lyons
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Jennet Arcara
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Anu Manchikanti Gomez
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California.
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