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Scroggins JK, Topaz M, Min SH, Barcelona V. Associations Among Lifetime Discrimination Typologies and Psychological Health in Black and Hispanic Women After Birth. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2024:S0884-2175(24)00258-2. [PMID: 39197482 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2024.07.004] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify lifetime discrimination typologies and examine their associations with psychological health outcomes among Black and Hispanic women after birth. DESIGN Secondary analysis of the Community and Child Health Network study data. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1,350 Black and 607 Hispanic women. METHODS We built two latent class models for Black and Hispanic women using eight indicator variables from different life domains of discrimination (childhood, family, work, police, education, housing, health care, and loans). We used bivariate and multiple regression analyses to examine the association among the identified typologies and postpartum depression and perceived stress at 6 months postpartum. RESULTS We selected the three-class model with best fit indices and interpretability: no lifetime discrimination (n = 1,029; 76.22%), high childhood-family racial discrimination (n = 224, 16.59%), and moderate lifetime discrimination (n = 97, 7.19%) among Black women and no lifetime discrimination (n = 493, 81.22%), high childhood-family racial discrimination (n = 93, 15.32%), and high education discrimination (n = 21, 3.46%) among Hispanic women. The adjusted postpartum depression and perceived stress scores were significantly greater in Typologies 2 and 3 than Typology 1 in Black women. The adjusted perceived stress scores were significantly greater in Typologies 2 and 3 than Typology 1 in Hispanic women. CONCLUSION Lifetime discrimination experiences manifested in complex patterns. Women who experienced moderate to high discrimination across all or specific life domains had worse postpartum depression and perceived stress at 6 months after birth. It is crucial to address lifetime discrimination to improve maternal mental health.
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Alvarez D, Adynski H, Harris R, Zou B, Taylor JY, Santos HP. Social Support Is Protective Against the Effects of Discrimination on Parental Mental Health Outcomes. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2024:10783903241243092. [PMID: 38600825 DOI: 10.1177/10783903241243092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Discrimination, or unfair treatment based on individual characteristics such as gender, race, skin color, and or sexual orientation, is a pervasive social stressor that perpetuates health disparities by limiting social and economic opportunity and is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes. AIMS The purpose of the present study is to (1) examine the association between maternal experiences of discrimination and paternal experiences of discrimination; (2) explore how discrimination relates to parental (maternal and paternal) stress and depressive symptoms; and (3) examine whether social support exerts protective effects. METHODS The sample was 2,510 mothers and 1,249 fathers from the Child Community Health Network study. Linear regression models were conducted to explore associations between maternal and paternal discrimination. In addition, mediation analyses were conducted to explore if social support functioned as a mediator between discrimination on parental stress and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Most mothers (40.3%) and fathers (50.7%) identified race as the predominant reason for discrimination. Experiencing discrimination was significantly related to stress and depressive symptoms for both parents, and all forms of social support mediated these relationships. Our findings suggest that social support can act as a protective factor against the negative association between discrimination and both stress and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the need to integrate social support into existing interventions and include fathers in mental health screenings in primary-care settings. Finally, we briefly describe the role of nurses and other allied health professionals in addressing discrimination in health care and health policy implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dallis Alvarez
- Dallis Alvarez, BSN, RN, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Harry Adynski
- Harry Adynski, PhD, RN, PMH-BC, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rebeca Harris
- Rebeca Harris BSN, RN, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Baiming Zou
- Baiming Zou, PhD, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Y Taylor
- Jacquelyn Y. Taylor, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hudson P Santos
- Hudson P. Santos Jr, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Taylor JY, Jones-Patten A, Prescott L, Potts-Thompson S, Joyce C, Tayo B, Saban K. The race-based stress reduction intervention (RiSE) study on African American women in NYC and Chicago: Design and methods for complex genomic analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295293. [PMID: 38598554 PMCID: PMC11006145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
RiSE study aims to evaluate a race-based stress-reduction intervention as an effective strategy to improve coping and decrease stress-related symptoms, inflammatory burden, and modify DNA methylation of stress response-related genes in older AA women. This article will describe genomic analytic methods to be utilized in this longitudinal, randomized clinical trial of older adult AA women in Chicago and NYC that examines the effect of the RiSE intervention on DNAm pre- and post-intervention, and its overall influence on inflammatory burden. Salivary DNAm will be measured at baseline and 6 months following the intervention, using the Oragene-DNA kit. Measures of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, fatigue, sleep, inflammatory burden, and coping strategies will be assessed at 4 time points including at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months. Genomic data analysis will include the use of pre-processed and quality-controlled methylation data expressed as beta (β) values. Association analyses will be performed to detect differentially methylated sites on the targeted candidate genes between the intervention and non-intervention groups using the Δβ (changes in methylation) with adjustment for age, health behaviors, early life adversity, hybridization batch, and top principal components of the probes as covariates. To account for multiple testing, we will use FDR adjustment with a corrected p-value of <0.05 regarded as statistically significant. To assess the relationship between inflammatory burden and Δβ among the study samples, we will repeat association analyses with the inclusion of individual inflammation protein measures. ANCOVA will be used because it is more statistically powerful to detect differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Y. Taylor
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Alexandria Jones-Patten
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Laura Prescott
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Potts-Thompson
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Cara Joyce
- Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Bamidele Tayo
- Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Karen Saban
- Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Center for Translational Research and Education, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, United States of America
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Luo Y, Xu J, Xie J, Xiao P, Cai Q. The mediating role of resilience in the relationship between stress and psychological distress in parents of children with cancer. J Health Psychol 2024; 29:266-274. [PMID: 37840285 DOI: 10.1177/13591053231202635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Caring for children with cancer is stressful for parents and leads to psychological distress, which is mainly manifested as depressive symptoms and anxiety. This study explored the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between stress and psychological distress in parents of children with cancer. We recruited 258 parents of children with cancer in three tertiary hospitals in Mainland China. The results revealed that the mediating effect of resilience for the relationships between stress and depressive symptoms and between stress and anxiety accounted for 23.4% and 11.4%, respectively, of the total effect. Resilience was confirmed as a protective factor that can be incorporated into future intervention programmes to improve the psychological well-being of parents of children with cancer. Future studies could develop resilience training programmes to enhance the resilience of parents of children with cancer to alleviate parents' psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhui Luo
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, China
| | - Jing Xu
- The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China
| | | | - Pin Xiao
- Hunan Children's Hospital, China
| | - Qian Cai
- The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China
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Knorr DA, Fox MM. Maternal grandmothers buffer the effects of ethnic discrimination among pregnant Latina mothers. EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES 2023; 6:e7. [PMID: 38516370 PMCID: PMC10955360 DOI: 10.1017/ehs.2023.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ethnic discrimination during pregnancy is linked to maternal psychological distress, adverse birth outcomes and increased offspring morbidity and mortality. An evolutionary perspective reframes offspring health issues as a risk to maternal fitness. We argue that kin may be evolutionarily motivated to buffer psychosocial stressors for the mother during pregnancy. Previously, we found that the relationship of a pregnant woman with her own mother (fetus' maternal grandmother) had a positive association on maternal prenatal psychology, above and beyond her relationship with her fetus' father. Here, we ask if grandmothers buffer mothers' prenatal psychological distress from ethnic discrimination. Using self-report data collected from 216 pregnant Latina women living in Southern California, we found discrimination to be significantly, positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in linear regression models. Maternal grandmother communication attenuated the association of discrimination and all three psychological distress measures, adjusting for the mother's relationship with the father. Maternal grandmother emotional support similarly significantly moderated the relationship of discrimination with depression and anxiety. We did not observe any significant interactions for paternal grandmother relationships. Geographic proximity was not a significant stress buffer. Results suggest the important role maternal grandmothers play in perinatal mental health, and that these benefits exist uncoupled from geographic proximity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaney A. Knorr
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Molly M. Fox
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Barcelona V, Abuaish S, Lee S, Harkins S, Butler A, Tycko B, Baccarelli AA, Walsh K, Monk CE. Stress and DNA Methylation of Blood Leukocytes among Pregnant Latina Women. EPIGENOMES 2023; 7:27. [PMID: 37987302 PMCID: PMC10660842 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7040027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Latinas experience physical and psychological stressors in pregnancy leading to increased morbidity and higher risk for adverse birth outcomes. Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation (DNAm), have been proposed as markers to create more refined risk stratification, yet few of these studies have examined these changes in Latinas. We conducted a secondary analysis of stored blood leukocytes of Latina women (n = 58) enrolled in a larger National Institutes of Health funded R01 project (2011-2016). We examined DNAm on eight candidate stress genes to compare physically and psychologically stressed participants to healthy (low stress) participants. We found unique CpGs that were differentially methylated in stressed women early- and mid-pregnancy compared to the healthy group, though none remained significant after FDR correction. Both physical and psychological stress were associated with hypomethylation at two consecutive CpG sites on NR3C1 in early pregnancy and one CpG site on NR3C1 in mid-pregnancy before adjustment. Stress was also associated with hypomethylation at two CpG sites on FKBP5 in early and mid-pregnancy but were no longer significant after FDR adjustment. Though we did not find statistically significant differences in DNAm during pregnancy between stressed and healthy women in this sample, signals were consistent with previous findings. Future work in larger samples should further examine the associations between stress and DNAm in pregnancy as this mechanism may explain underlying perinatal health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sameera Abuaish
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Mental Health Data Science, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Sarah Harkins
- Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Ashlie Butler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Benjamin Tycko
- Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA;
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Kate Walsh
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
| | - Catherine E. Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Taylor JY, Barcelona V, Magny-Normilus C, Wright ML, Jones-Patten A, Prescott L, Potts-Thompson S, Santos HP. A roadmap for social determinants of health and biological nursing research in the National Institute of Nursing Research 2022-2026 Strategic Plan: Optimizing health and advancing health equity using antiracist framing. Nurs Outlook 2023; 71:102059. [PMID: 37863707 PMCID: PMC10803078 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102059] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health equity is essential for improving the well-being of all individuals and groups, and research remains a critical element for understanding barriers to health equity. While considering how to best support research that acknowledges current health challenges, it is crucial to understand the role of social justice frameworks within health equity research and the contributions of minoritized researchers. Additionally, there should be an increased understanding of the influence of social determinants of health on biological mechanisms. PURPOSE Biological health equity research seeks to understand and address health disparities among historically excluded populations. DISCUSSION While there are examples of studies in this area led by minoritized researchers, some individuals and groups remain understudied due to underfunding. Research within minoritized populations must be prioritized to authentically achieve health equity. Furthermore, there should be increased funding from National Institutes of Health to support minoritized researchers working in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Y Taylor
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY.
| | - Veronica Barcelona
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY
| | | | | | | | - Laura Prescott
- Center for Research on People of Color, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY
| | | | - Hudson P Santos
- School of Nursing & Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
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Ray M, Wallace MK, Grayson SC, Cummings MH, Davis JA, Scott J, Belcher SM, Davis TS, Conley YP. Epigenomic Links Between Social Determinants of Health and Symptoms: A Scoping Review. Biol Res Nurs 2023; 25:404-416. [PMID: 36537264 PMCID: PMC10404910 DOI: 10.1177/10998004221147300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Social determinants of health (SDoH) impact health and wellness. The link between SDoH and adverse health outcomes, including symptom occurrence and severity, may be explained by an individual's physiologic response to one or more SDoH. One potential mechanism underlying this physiologic response linking SDoH and symptoms is the dynamic epigenome. The purpose of this scoping review of the literature was to examine differential susceptibility for symptoms by identifying and summarizing research linking SDoH and symptoms through epigenomic mechanisms. PubMed was searched to identify empirical research where at least one SDoH was an independent or dependent variable, at least one symptom was investigated, and the investigation included an epigenomic measure. Of the 484 articles initially retrieved, after thorough vetting, 41 articles met eligibility. The most studied symptom was depressive symptoms followed by anxiety, cognitive function, sleep dysfunction, and pain. The most frequently studied SDoH were: 1) stress, particularly early life stress and acculturative stress; and 2) trauma, predominantly childhood trauma. DNA methylation and telomere length were the most studied epigenomic measures. Four genes (SLC6A4, BDNF, NR3C1, OXTR) had evidence from multiple studies and across methodological approaches linking SDoH to symptoms. This review supports the inclusion of epigenomic approaches to better understand the link between SDoH and symptoms and provides evidence that SDoH impact telomere length and the methylation of genes involved in neurotransmitter signaling, neuronal survival, behavior, inflammation and stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitali Ray
- Health Promotion and Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Susan C. Grayson
- Health Promotion and Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Meredith H. Cummings
- Health Promotion and Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jessica A. Davis
- Health Promotion and Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jewel Scott
- College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Sarah M. Belcher
- Health and Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tara S. Davis
- Health Promotion and Development, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yvette P. Conley
- School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Salomon RE, Dobbins S, Harris C, Haeusslein L, Lin CX, Reeves K, Richoux S, Roussett G, Shin J, Dawson-Rose C. Antiracist symptom science: A call to action and path forward. Nurs Outlook 2022; 70:794-806. [PMID: 36400578 PMCID: PMC10916506 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2022.07.014] [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: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Nurse scientists recognize the experience of racism as a driving force behind health. However, symptom science, a pillar of nursing, has rarely considered contributions of racism. Our objective is to describe findings within symptom science research related to racial disparities and/or experiences of racism and to promote antiracist symptom science within nursing research. In this manuscript, we use an antiracist lens to review a predominant symptom science theory and literature in three areas of symptom science research-oncology, mental health, and perinatal health. Finally, we make recommendations for increasing antiracist research in symptom science by altering (a) research questions, (b) recruitment methods, (c) study design, (d) data analysis, and (e) dissemination of findings. Traditionally, symptom science focuses on individual level factors rather than broader contexts driving symptom experience and management. We urge symptom science researchers to embrace antiracism by designing research with the specific intent of dismantling racism at multiple levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Salomon
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
| | - Sarah Dobbins
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California
| | | | | | - Chen-Xi Lin
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Katie Reeves
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sarah Richoux
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Greg Roussett
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Joosun Shin
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Cabrera-Domínguez G, de la Calle M, Herranz Carrillo G, Ruvira S, Rodríguez-Rodríguez P, Arribas SM, Ramiro-Cortijo D. Women during Lactation Reduce Their Physical Activity and Sleep Duration Compared to Pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11199. [PMID: 36141479 PMCID: PMC9517522 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sleep, mental health and physical activity are fundamental for wellbeing, and some of these factors are interrelated. However, these aspects are not usually considered during pregnancy and lactation, which are particularly vulnerable periods. Therefore, our aims were to conduct a cross sectional study to assess the psychological capital, quality of life, sleep hygiene and physical activity in a cohort of women during pregnancy and lactation periods. Women were recruited from Spanish maternity and lactation non-profit associations and social networks through an online platform with the following inclusion criteria: pregnancy (in any period of gestation) or breastfeeding period (≤6 months postpartum). The cohort was categorized into ≤12 weeks of gestation (n = 32), >12 weeks of gestation (n = 119) and lactation (n = 60). The women self-reported the sociodemographic data, obstetric complications and full breastfeeding or mixed practices. In addition, women responded to the psychological capital instrument, the health survey form, the Pittsburg sleep quality index and the pregnancy physical activity questionnaire. Overall, the groups were similar in sociodemographic variables. Women in the lactation period perceived lower social support compared to the gestation period. No statistically differences were found between groups in the psychological capital nor in the general health survey form. However, the models adjusted by employment and civil and economic status and perceived social support, demonstrated that the sleep duration negatively associated with the lactation period (β = 1.13 ± 0.56; p-Value = 0.016), and the household tasks were associated with this period (β = 2147.3 ± 480.7; p-Value < 0.001). A decrease in physical daily activities were associated with both the end of gestation and the lactation periods. In addition, the decreasing total activity was associated with the lactation period (β = 1683.67 ± 688.05; p-Value = 0.016). In conclusion, during lactation, the poorer sleep and physical activity, together with a lower social support of the woman, may lead to deficient mental health adjustment. Our data suggest that women are at higher risk of vulnerability in lactation compared to the gestation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gema Cabrera-Domínguez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - María de la Calle
- Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gloria Herranz Carrillo
- Division of Neonatology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), C/Profesor Martin Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Ruvira
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- PhD Programme in Pharmacology and Physiology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia M. Arribas
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - David Ramiro-Cortijo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Arzobispo Morcillo 2, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Food, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health (FOSCH) Research Group, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Wei L, Ying X, Zhai M, Li J, Liu D, Liu X, Yu B, Yan H. The association between peritraumatic distress, perceived stress, depression in pregnancy, and NR3C1 DNA methylation among Chinese pregnant women who experienced COVID-19 lockdown. Front Immunol 2022; 13:966522. [PMID: 36091061 PMCID: PMC9453447 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.966522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress can affect pregnant women in an epigenetic way during the critical period of conception of their offspring. The study aims to investigate the relationship between peritraumatic distress, prenatal perceived stress, depression, and glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) DNA methylation among pregnant women who experienced COVID-19 lockdown in China. Study data were collected from 30 pregnant women in Wuhan and Huanggang, China. The Peritraumatic Distress Inventory was used to measure peritraumatic distress, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms, and the Perceived Stress Scale was used to measure perceived stress. DNA methylation in the exon 1F promoter region of NR3C1 gene from the venous blood mononuclear cell genome was characterized by bisulfite sequencing. Correlation and linear regression were used for data analysis. The mean level of peritraumatic distress, perceived stress, and depression was 6.30 (SD = 5.09), 6.50 (SD = 5.41), and 6.60 (SD = 4.85), respectively, with 23.33% of pregnant women being depressed. The mean NR3C1 methylation was 0.65 (SD = 0.22). Prenatal depression was positively correlated with the degree of methylation in venous blood from the mother (r = 0.59, p = 0.001), and depression predicted methylation of NR3C1 gene at the CpG 8 site (β = 0.05, p = 0.03). No association was found between peritraumatic distress as well as perceived stress and methylation of NR3C1. NR3C1 gene was susceptible to epigenetic modification of DNA methylation in the context of prenatal stress, and maternal depression was associated with increased NR3C1 methylation among women who experienced COVID-19 lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Wei
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaohong Ying
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengxi Zhai
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiayu Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Population and Health Research Center, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Rodriguez ACI, Smith L, Harris R, Nephew BC, Santos HP, Murgatroyd C. Oxytocin modulates sensitivity to acculturation and discrimination stress in pregnancy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 141:105769. [PMID: 35462200 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Latinas in the United States suffer disproportionately high levels of pre- and postnatal depression. However, little is understood regarding the biopsychosocial mechanisms linking socio-environmental factors to this increase in mental health risk. The oxytocinergic system, with its roles in the stress response, social behaviour and mood regulation, may be an important modulator of this sensitivity. We have previously reported prenatal discrimination to be a significant predictor of postnatal depression in Latinas; here we tested whether sensitivity to discrimination stress might depend on oxytocinergic system activity. METHODS A sample of 148 Latina women residing in the US were assessed prenatally at 24-32 weeks' gestation and 46 weeks postnatally for perceived discrimination levels, acculturation, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Plasma oxytocin (OXT) levels and DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) were measured prenatally together with genotyping for the OXTR SNP, rs53576. RESULTS In mothers with low OXT levels and low OXTR methylation, acculturation level was associated with postnatal depression and anxiety symptoms. No such associations were found in those with higher OXT levels and higher OXTR methylation. We also found a significant relationship between prenatal psychosocial factors (discrimination and acculturation) and postnatal depression and anxiety in carriers of the G-allele at rs53576, but not AA genotypes. Finally, OXTR methylation positively correlated with mothers reports of experiencing affiliative social touch. Moreover, social touch mediated the relationship between discrimination and postnatal depression in those with low OXTR methylation. CONCLUSION These results support the hypothesis that the oxytocinergic system modulates sensitivity to prenatal stress in the development of postnatal mood and anxiety disorders in Latina mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Smith
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Rebeca Harris
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin C Nephew
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hudson P Santos
- Biobehavioral Laboratory, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Chris Murgatroyd
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
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13
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Incollingo Rodriguez AC, Polcari JJ, Nephew BC, Harris R, Zhang C, Murgatroyd C, Santos HP. Acculturative stress, telomere length, and postpartum depression in Latinx mothers. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 147:301-306. [PMID: 35123339 PMCID: PMC8882151 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Latinx mothers in the United States are highly vulnerable to psychosocial stressors, including discrimination and acculturative stress, which increase maternal health risks. Previous work in Latinx mothers indicates that prenatal discrimination influences epigenetic immune markers that may increase risk for postpartum depression. Discrimination and acculturative stress have also been linked to cellular aging, including telomere degradation, in Hispanic populations broadly, but not in this particularly vulnerable population. The present work addressed this gap in a sample of 150 Latinx mothers living in the United States (mean age 27.6 years). Psychosocial measures (including discrimination, stress, and mental health) and blood were collected at 24-32 weeks gestation. Psychosocial measures were re-evaluated at 4-6 weeks postpartum. First, we examined the relationship between maternal prenatal cultural stress (i.e., discrimination and acculturative stress) and telomere length (TL). Second, we tested whether TL predicted postpartum depression. Acculturative stress - but not discrimination - predicted shorter TL, especially among participants with high methylation of the FOXP3 promoter region. Further, shorter telomere measures during pregnancy predicted greater postpartum depression symptom severity. TL was not related to any sociodemographic characteristics such as age, income, country of origin, or years in the United States. These results highlight the uniquely impactful role of acculturative stress on Latinx maternal health and the potential interactive role of telomere length and epigenetic immune alterations in risk for maternal mental health concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justin J Polcari
- Department of Biology & Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA, 01609, USA
| | - Benjamin C Nephew
- Department of Biology & Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA, 01609, USA
| | - Rebeca Harris
- Univeristy of North Carolina School of Nursing, 120 N. Medical Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Chongben Zhang
- Biobehavioral Lab, University of North Carolina School of Nursing, Carrington Hall, #7460, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Chris Murgatroyd
- Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, E202 John Dalton Building, Manchester, M15 6BH, UK
| | - Hudson P Santos
- Biobehavioral Lab, University of North Carolina School of Nursing, Carrington Hall, #7460, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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Harris RA, Chen D, Santos HP. Which roads lead to depression in Latinas? A network analysis of prenatal depressive symptoms, discrimination, acculturative stress, and low birth weight. Res Nurs Health 2022; 45:350-363. [PMID: 35088896 PMCID: PMC9064940 DOI: 10.1002/nur.22210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although immigrant mothers from some Latinx subgroups initially achieve healthy birth outcomes despite lower socioeconomic status, this advantage deteriorates across generations in the United States. Interpersonal discrimination and acculturative stress may interact with economic hardship to predict an intergenerational cascade of emotional and biological vulnerabilities, particularly perinatal depression. Network analyses may elucidate not only how and which psychosocial experiences relate to depressive symptoms, but which symptom-to-symptom relationships emerge. This study aims to understand (1) how economic, acculturative, and discrimination stressors relate to prenatal depression and low birth weight and (2) how Latinas may respond to and cope with stressors by exploring symptom-symptom and symptom-experience relationships. A sample of 151 pregnant Latinas (predominantly foreign-born and Mexican and Central American descent) completed the EPDS and psychosocial questionnaires (discrimination, acculturation, acculturative stress, economic hardship) during pregnancy (24-32 weeks). Birth weights were recorded from postpartum medical records. We created network models using the Extended Bayesian Information Criterion Graphical Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator to estimate the relationship between variables. Discrimination exposure connected psychosocial stressors to depressive symptoms, particularly worry, crying, sadness, and self-blame. Discrimination also revealed a connection between acculturation and low birth weight. Furthermore, younger age of migration and greater acculturation levels were correlated to greater discrimination stress and low birth weights. Perinatal research in Latinas must account not only for measures of cultural adaptation but recognize how developmental exposures across the life span, including discrimination, may be associated with adverse health trajectories for a mother and her child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Alvarado Harris
- Biobehavioral Laboratory, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daqi Chen
- Statistics and Operational Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hudson P Santos
- Biobehavioral Laboratory, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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15
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Hernandez-Castro I, Toledo-Corral CM, Chavez T, Habre R, Grubbs B, Al-Marayati L, Lerner D, Lurvey N, Lagomasino I, Eckel SP, Dunton GF, Farzan SF, Breton CV, Bastain TM. Perceived vulnerability to immigration policies among postpartum Hispanic/Latina women in the MADRES pregnancy cohort before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. WOMEN'S HEALTH (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 18:17455057221125103. [PMID: 36148937 PMCID: PMC9511002 DOI: 10.1177/17455057221125103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Research suggests that perceived immigration policy vulnerability has important health implications. Coupled with the mental and physical stressors accompanying the postpartum period and a growing awareness of the discrimination and structural racism experienced by marginalized communities globally, the coronavirus disease 2019 period may have exacerbated stress among vulnerable populations, specifically postpartum Hispanic/Latina women. This study evaluated perceived immigration policy vulnerability (i.e. discrimination, social isolation, and family threats) in early postpartum Hispanic/Latina women in Los Angeles before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS The Perceived Immigration Policy Effects Scale (PIPES) was administered cross-sectionally at 1 month postpartum to 187 Hispanic/Latina women in the MADRES cohort. Respondents between September 2018 and March 2020 were classified as "pre-pandemic" (N = 128), between March 2020 and July 2020 as "early pandemic" (N = 38), and between August 2020 and November 2021 as "later pandemic" (N = 21). Average PIPES subscale scores were dichotomized into "higher" and "lower" groups (⩽median, >median) and logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS Approximately half of participants had incomes of <$50,000 (50.3%) and were Latin American born (54.6%). After adjusting for age, nativity, education, income, postpartum distress, and employment status, early pandemic respondents had 5.05 times the odds of a higher score on the perceived discrimination subscale (95% CI: 1.81, 14.11), 6.47 times the odds of a higher score on the social isolation subscale (95% CI: 2.23, 18.74), 2.66 times the odds of a higher score on the family threats subscale (95% CI: 0.97, 7.32), and 3.36 times the odds of a higher total score (95% CI: 1.19, 9.51) when compared to pre-pandemic respondents. There were no significant subscale score differences between later pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. CONCLUSION Higher perceived immigration policy vulnerability was reported among postpartum women during the early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic versus pre-pandemic periods. This suggests greater social inequities during the early pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ixel Hernandez-Castro
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Claudia M Toledo-Corral
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Chavez
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rima Habre
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brendan Grubbs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laila Al-Marayati
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Isabel Lagomasino
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Genevieve F Dunton
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carrie V Breton
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Theresa M Bastain
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Incollingo Rodriguez AC, Nagpal TS. The WOMBS Framework: A review and new theoretical model for investigating pregnancy-related weight stigma and its intergenerational implications. Obes Rev 2021; 22:e13322. [PMID: 34288364 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
As the growing weight stigma literature has developed, one critically relevant and vulnerable population has received little consideration-pregnant and postpartum women. Because weight fluctuations are inherent to this life phase, and rates of prepregnancy overweight and obesity are already high, this gap is problematic. More recently, however, there has been a rising interest in pregnancy-related weight stigma and its consequences. This paper therefore sought to (a) review the emerging research on pregnancy-related weight stigma phenomenology and (b) integrate this existing evidence to present a novel theoretical framework for studying pregnancy-related weight stigma. The Weight gain, Obesity, Maternal-child Biobehavioral pathways, and Stigma (WOMBS) Framework proposes psychophysiological mechanisms linking pregnancy-related weight stigmatization to increased risk of weight gain and, in turn, downstream childhood obesity risk. This WOMBS Framework highlights pregnant and postpartum women as a theoretically unique at-risk population for whom this social stigma engages maternal physiology and transfers obesity risk to the child via social and physiological mechanisms. The WOMBS Framework provides a novel and useful tool to guide the emerging pregnancy-related weight stigma research and, ultimately, support stigma-reduction efforts in this critical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela C Incollingo Rodriguez
- Psychological & Cognitive Sciences, Department of Social Science & Policy Studies, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Taniya S Nagpal
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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