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Lustermans H, Beijers R, Vis V, Aarts E, de Weerth C. Stress-related eating in pregnancy? An RCT examining links between prenatal stress and food choices. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 166:107073. [PMID: 38754339 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107073] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diet quality during pregnancy is important for maternal health and offspring development. However, national dietary recommendations are not always met. A potential barrier for healthy food choices might be the experience of stress. Previous literature in non-pregnant populations suggests a negative effect of acute stress on diet quality. This preregistered study is the first to test whether an acute stressor leads to unhealthy food choices in pregnancy and examine the moderating role of stress, depressive and anxiety complaints in daily life. METHOD Pregnant women (N = 110, 3rd trimester) completed online self-reported surveys measuring stress, depressive and anxiety complaints in daily life. Hereafter, participants were invited for a laboratory visit, in which they were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test or a control task. After this manipulation, self-reported and actual food choices and food intake were assessed. At the end of the visit, a hair sample was collected. Throughout the visit, visual analogue scales on negative affect were completed and saliva samples were collected. RESULTS The stress group experienced significantly more psychological stress than the control group during the experimental manipulation. Main regression analyses showed that the acute laboratory stressor did not cause unhealthy food choices in the third trimester of pregnancy. In fact, the stress group chose fewer unhealthy foods and consumed fewer kilocalories compared to the control group. Additionally, the findings point at a moderating role of depressive and stress complaints in daily life on food choices within the control group: higher scores were related to more unhealthy food choices and more kilocalories consumed. DISCUSSION As this was the first study to test the effect of an acute stressor on food choices in pregnant women, more research is needed to obtain a better understanding of stress-related eating in pregnancy. This knowledge may inform future interventions to support pregnant women in improving their diet quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Lustermans
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, P.O. Box 9010, Nijmegen 6500 GL, the Netherlands.
| | - R Beijers
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, P.O. Box 9010, Nijmegen 6500 GL, the Netherlands; Department of Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9104, Nijmegen 6500 HE, the Netherlands
| | - V Vis
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, P.O. Box 9010, Nijmegen 6500 GL, the Netherlands
| | - E Aarts
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 EN, the Netherlands
| | - C de Weerth
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, P.O. Box 9010, Nijmegen 6500 GL, the Netherlands
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Nyström-Hansen M, Andersen MS, Davidsen KA, Roehder K, Trier C, Nayberg E, Lyons-Ruth K, Harder S. Hair cortisol concentrations in pregnant women with bipolar, depressive, or schizophrenic spectrum disorders. Arch Womens Ment Health 2024; 27:577-584. [PMID: 38308143 PMCID: PMC11231011 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-024-01434-4] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Maternal cortisol levels in pregnancy may support the growth of or adversely affect fetal organs, including the brain. While moderate cortisol levels are essential for fetal development, excessive or prolonged elevations may have negative health consequences for both the mother and the offspring. Little is known about predictors of altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity during pregnancy. This study examined maternal hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in relation to severe psychopathology. METHODS Hair samples were collected from 69 women, 32 with a lifetime diagnosis of severe mental disorders (bipolar I or II disorder, moderate or severe depressive disorder, schizophrenic spectrum disorder), and 37 non-clinical controls. Hair samples were collected during the 3rd trimester, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for cortisol assessment. Psychiatric diagnosis and current level of symptomatic functioning were assessed using the structured clinical interview from the DSM-5 and the global assessment of functioning scale. RESULTS Women with a lifetime diagnosis of severe mental illness had significantly elevated HCC compared to controls. Poorer current symptomatic functioning was also significantly associated with elevated HCC in pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS The implications of alterations in HCC on both maternal and infant health need further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Nyström-Hansen
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Kirstine Agnete Davidsen
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Research Unit, Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Odense, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Katrine Roehder
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christopher Trier
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emilie Nayberg
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karlen Lyons-Ruth
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, USA
| | - Susanne Harder
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Høgh S, Lange EØ, Høgsted ES, Larsen K, Hegaard HK, Borgsted C, Frokjaer VG. The cortisol awakening response is blunted in healthy women early postpartum. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107048. [PMID: 38657341 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107048] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The dynamic capacity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis supports healthy adaptions to stress and play a key role in maintaining mental health. Perinatal adaptations in the HPA-axis dynamics in terms of the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), may be involved in dysregulation of perinatal mental health. We aimed to determine if CAR and absolute evening cortisol early postpartum differed from non-perinatal women and evaluate the association between the CAR and maternal mental well-being. METHODS The CAR was computed as the area under the curve with respect to increase from baseline from serial home-sampling of saliva across 0-60 minutes from awakening. We evaluated differences in CAR and absolute evening cortisol between postpartum women (N=50, mean postpartum days: 38, SD: ±11) and non-perinatal women (N=91) in a multiple linear regression model. We also evaluated the association between CAR and maternal mental well-being in a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS We found that healthy postpartum women had a blunted CAR (p<0.001) corresponding to 84% reduction and 80% lower absolute evening cortisol (p<0.001) relative to non-perinatal healthy women. In the postpartum group, there was a trend-level association between lower CAR and higher scores on the WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5) (p=0.048) and lower Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores (p=0.04). CONCLUSION Our data emphasize the unique hormonal landscape during the postpartum period in terms of blunted CAR and lower absolute evening cortisol in healthy women early postpartum compared to non-perinatal. Our findings show a potential association between a reduced CAR and improved mental well-being during early motherhood, which suggests that reduced CAR might reflect healthy adjustment to early motherhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stinne Høgh
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Emilie Ø Lange
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emma S Høgsted
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Larsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne K Hegaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Camilla Borgsted
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibe G Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Sabiniewicz A, Pieniak M, Hummel T. Pregnant women exhibit decreased trigeminal sensitivity. Brain Behav 2024; 14:e3597. [PMID: 38956811 PMCID: PMC11219288 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3597] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chemosensory function in pregnant women is far from being fully understood due to the lack of data and inconsistencies between the results of self-reports and objective studies. METHODS In the present study in pregnant and non-pregnant women (npregnant = 14, nnon-pregnant = 13), we measured EEG-derived electrophysiological response measures supported by psychophysical olfactory and trigeminal tests. RESULTS Results indicate that the olfactory event-related potential amplitudes or latencies of the P1, N1, and P2 components remain unchanged in pregnant women. In accordance with these findings, no difference was observed between pregnant and non-pregnant women in psychophysical olfactory tests. However, pregnant women displayed a lower degree of sensitivity to trigeminal stimuli compared to non-pregnant controls, which was also reflected in the electrophysiological responses to trigeminal stimuli. CONCLUSION Counterintuitive as they may seem, our findings demonstrate a "flattening" of chemosomatosensory responses. Psychological processes occurring during pregnancy, such as changes in socioemotional perception of odors resulting from the diminished stress response, may provide a background to these results. Overall, the present results indicate the absence of major differences between non-pregnant and pregnant women in terms of measured olfactory function though chemosomatosensory function of the pregnant women appears to be decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sabiniewicz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell & Taste ClinicTU DresdenDresdenGermany
- Department of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences, Institute of PsychologyUniversity of WroclawWroclawPoland
| | - Michał Pieniak
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell & Taste ClinicTU DresdenDresdenGermany
- Department of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences, Institute of PsychologyUniversity of WroclawWroclawPoland
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell & Taste ClinicTU DresdenDresdenGermany
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Kaliush PR, Conradt E, Kerig PK, Williams PG, Crowell SE. A multilevel developmental psychopathology model of childbirth and the perinatal transition. Dev Psychopathol 2024; 36:533-544. [PMID: 36700362 PMCID: PMC10368796 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422001389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Despite recent applications of a developmental psychopathology perspective to the perinatal period, these conceptualizations have largely ignored the role that childbirth plays in the perinatal transition. Thus, we present a conceptual model of childbirth as a bridge between prenatal and postnatal health. We argue that biopsychosocial factors during pregnancy influence postnatal health trajectories both directly and indirectly through childbirth experiences, and we focus our review on those indirect effects. In order to frame our model within a developmental psychopathology lens, we first describe "typical" biopsychosocial aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. Then, we explore ways in which these processes may deviate from the norm to result in adverse or traumatic childbirth experiences. We briefly describe early postnatal health trajectories that may follow from these birth experiences, including those which are adaptive despite traumatic childbirth, and we conclude with implications for research and clinical practice. We intend for our model to illuminate the importance of including childbirth in multilevel perinatal research. This advancement is critical for reducing perinatal health disparities and promoting health and well-being among birthing parents and their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa R. Kaliush
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, BEH S 502, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Elisabeth Conradt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27701, USA
| | - Patricia K. Kerig
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, BEH S 502, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Paula G. Williams
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, BEH S 502, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sheila E. Crowell
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, BEH S 502, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
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Raz S. Comprehensive assessment of memory function, inhibitory control, neural activity, and cortisol levels in late pregnancy. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2024; 1535:42-61. [PMID: 38622960 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15142] [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] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
A considerable proportion of women subjectively perceive a detriment to their cognitive capacity during pregnancy, with decreased memory functions being the most frequently self-reported concerns. However, objective investigation of these perceived cognitive deficits has yielded inconsistent results. This study focused on memory functions during late pregnancy using multiple tasks designed to assess various memory indices, for example, working memory, learning rate, immediate recall, proactive and retroactive interference, delayed recall, retrieval efficiency, visuospatial constructional ability, recognition, and executive function. Additionally, sustained attention and inhibitory control were examined using a combined recognition stop-signal task. Electrophysiological brain activity during this task was recorded using a 128-channel electroencephalographic-event-related potential system. Salivary cortisol levels were assessed both prior to and following the experimental session. In contrast to the widely held belief, results demonstrated that women in late pregnancy did not exhibit a decline in their performance across the various memory tests. In terms of accuracy, there was not a single task in which poorer performance was found for pregnant women. The quality of memory performance was comparable, and in some cases even superior, among women in the pregnancy group. On the stop-signal task, pregnant women exhibited significantly better performance, and their electrophysiological data revealed greater centrally distributed P300 amplitude to "stop" signs, which may signify an enhanced neural efficiency in the domains of inhibitory executive control. Endocrine results revealed that pregnant women exhibited significantly lower levels of salivary cortisol, suggesting an attenuation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity, which may contribute to the optimization of fetal development and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivan Raz
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, The Center for Psychobiological Research, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Emek Yezreel, Israel
- Department of Psychology, Tel Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
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Vincens N, Persson Waye K. Occupational and environmental noise exposure during pregnancy and rare health outcomes of offspring: a scoping review focusing on congenital anomalies and perinatal mortality. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2023; 38:423-438. [PMID: 35503245 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As environmental and occupational noise can be health hazards, recent studies have investigated the effects of noise exposure during pregnancy. Despite biological plausibility and animal studies supporting an association, studies focusing on congenital anomalies and perinatal mortality as outcomes of noise exposure are still scarce. We performed a scoping review to collect, summarise, and discuss the existing scientific research about the relationships between noise exposure during pregnancy and congenital anomalies and/or perinatal mortality. We searched electronic databases for papers published between 1970 and March 2021. We included 16 studies (seven on congenital anomalies, three on perinatal mortality, and two on both congenital anomalies and perinatal mortality). We assessed four studies on congenital hearing dysfunction as the definition of congenital anomalies includes functional anomalies. We found few studies on this topic and no studies on the combined effects of occupational and environmental noise exposures. Evidence suggests a small increase in the risk of congenital anomalies in relation to occupational and to a lesser extent environmental noise exposure. In addition, few studies investigated perinatal mortality and the ones that did, used different outcome definitions, so no conclusions could be made. However, a recent big cross-sectional study demonstrated an association between road traffic noise and stillbirth. A few studies suggest a possible association between congenital hearing dysfunction and occupational noise exposure during pregnancy. Future studies with larger samples, better exposure assessments, and better statistical modelling strategies are needed to investigate these relationships further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Vincens
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Persson Waye
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Rinne GR, Hartstein J, Guardino CM, Dunkel Schetter C. Stress before conception and during pregnancy and maternal cortisol during pregnancy: A scoping review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 153:106115. [PMID: 37119659 PMCID: PMC10936734 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress before conception and during pregnancy is associated with less favorable maternal and child health. Alterations in prenatal cortisol levels may serve as a central biological pathway linking stress to adverse maternal and child health. Research examining associations between maternal stress from childhood through pregnancy and prenatal cortisol has not been comprehensively reviewed. METHOD The current scoping review of 48 papers synthesizes studies reporting on associations between stress before conception and during pregnancy with maternal cortisol in pregnancy. Eligible studies measured childhood, the proximal preconception period, pregnancy, or lifetime stress based on stress exposures or appraisals and measured cortisol in saliva or hair during pregnancy. RESULTS Higher maternal childhood stress was associated with higher cortisol awakening responses and alterations in typical pregnancy-specific changes in diurnal cortisol patterns across studies. In contrast, most studies of preconception and prenatal stress reported null associations with cortisol and those reporting significant effects were inconsistent in direction. A few studies found that the associations between stress and cortisol during pregnancy varied as a function of several moderators including social support and environmental pollution. CONCLUSIONS Although many studies have evaluated effects of maternal stress on prenatal cortisol, this scoping review is the first to synthesize existing literature on this topic. The association between stress before conception and during pregnancy and prenatal cortisol may depend on the developmental timing of stress and several moderators. Maternal childhood stress was more consistently associated with prenatal cortisol than proximal preconception or pregnancy stress. We discuss methodological and analytic factors that may contribute to mixed findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle R Rinne
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Jenna Hartstein
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Abera M, Hanlon C, Fedlu H, Fewtrell M, Tesfaye M, Wells JCK. Stress and resilience during pregnancy: A comparative study between pregnant and non-pregnant women in Ethiopia. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001416. [PMID: 37216320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress during pregnancy is associated with perturbances in maternal psychology and physiology, and results in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. However, little attention has been given to understand maternal stress and its potential negative consequences in many low- and middle-income countries. We aimed to investigate whether pregnancy is associated with greater stress and lower psychological resilience among women living in Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia. METHOD An institution-based comparative cross-sectional study design was implemented in Jimma University Medical Center and Jimma health centers from 15 September to 30 November 2021. Women attending antenatal care and family planning services were invited to participate in the study. Participants were interviewed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), distress questionnaire-5, and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Linear regression analysis was used to test associations between pregnancy (exposure) and outcomes of interest (stress and resilience scores), while adjusting for potential confounders. Stress and resilience were mutually adjusted for one another in the final model. RESULTS A total of 166 pregnant and 154 non-pregnant women participated, with mean age of 27.0 SD 5.0 and 29.5 SD 5.3 years respectively. Pregnancy was associated with increased stress score by 4.1 points (β = 4.1; 95% CI: 3.0, 5.2), and with reduced resilience by 3.3 points (β = -3.3; 95% CI: -4.5, -2.2) in a fully adjusted model. In mutually-adjusted models, pregnancy was independently associated with greater stress (β = 2.9, 95% CI 1.8, 3.9) and lower resilience (β = -1.3, 95% CI: -2.5, -0.2) compared to non-pregnant women. CONCLUSION In this low income setting, pregnancy is associated with greater vulnerability in the mental health of women, characterized by greater perceived stress and diminished resilience. Context-relevant interventions to improve resilience and reduce stress could help improve the health and wellbeing of mothers, with potential benefits for their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubarek Abera
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Charlotte Hanlon
- Department of Health Services and Population Research, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Research and Capacity-Building, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hikma Fedlu
- Department of Public health officer, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Mary Fewtrell
- Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Markos Tesfaye
- Department of Psychiatry, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Jonathan C K Wells
- Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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Delagneau G, Twilhaar ES, Testa R, van Veen S, Anderson P. Association between prenatal maternal anxiety and/or stress and offspring's cognitive functioning: A meta-analysis. Child Dev 2023; 94:779-801. [PMID: 36582056 PMCID: PMC10952806 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This meta-analysis examined the relationship between prenatal maternal stress and/or anxiety and the outcomes of children aged 3 months to 9 years. Of the 8754 studies published before June 2021 that were synthesized, 17 conducted in Western countries were included in the meta-analysis (Ntotal = 23,307; Mmales 54%; Methnicity White 77%, Pacific 15%, African American/Black 10%, Middle Eastern 7%, Eastern 8%). Effect sizes ranged from -0.41 to 0.15. A weak negative association was found between prenatal stress and/or anxiety exposure and children's general intellectual development. Associations varied based on the type of exposure. Findings are limited to developed counties and cannot be generalized to low- and middle-income countries. Directions for maternal prenatal intervention and future studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garance Delagneau
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - E. Sabrina Twilhaar
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research TeamInstitute of Health and Medical ResearchCentre of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticsUniversité Paris CitéParisFrance
| | - Renee Testa
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteRoyal Children's Hospital (Dept of Mental Health)ParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Sarit van Veen
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Peter Anderson
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
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Kahankova R, Barnova K, Jaros R, Pavlicek J, Snasel V, Martinek R. Pregnancy in the time of COVID-19: towards Fetal monitoring 4.0. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:33. [PMID: 36647041 PMCID: PMC9841500 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05349-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
On the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, high-risk and vulnerable groups in the population were at particular risk of severe disease progression. Pregnant women were one of these groups. The infectious disease endangered not only the physical health of pregnant women, but also their mental well-being. Improving the mental health of pregnant women and reducing their risk of an infectious disease could be achieved by using remote home monitoring solutions. These would allow the health of the mother and fetus to be monitored from the comfort of their home, a reduction in the number of physical visits to the doctor and thereby eliminate the need for the mother to venture into high-risk public places. The most commonly used technique in clinical practice, cardiotocography, suffers from low specificity and requires skilled personnel for the examination. For that and due to the intermittent and active nature of its measurements, it is inappropriate for continuous home monitoring. The pandemic has demonstrated that the future lies in accurate remote monitoring and it is therefore vital to search for an option for fetal monitoring based on state-of-the-art technology that would provide a safe, accurate, and reliable information regarding fetal and maternal health state. In this paper, we thus provide a technical and critical review of the latest literature and on this topic to provide the readers the insights to the applications and future directions in fetal monitoring. We extensively discuss the remaining challenges and obstacles in future research and in developing the fetal monitoring in the new era of Fetal monitoring 4.0, based on the pillars of Healthcare 4.0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radana Kahankova
- grid.440850.d0000 0000 9643 2828Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Katerina Barnova
- grid.440850.d0000 0000 9643 2828Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Rene Jaros
- grid.440850.d0000 0000 9643 2828Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Jan Pavlicek
- grid.412684.d0000 0001 2155 4545Department of Pediatrics, Faculty Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Ostrava University, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Vaclav Snasel
- grid.440850.d0000 0000 9643 2828Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
| | - Radek Martinek
- grid.440850.d0000 0000 9643 2828Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
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Mlili NE, Ahabrach H, Cauli O. Hair Cortisol Concentration as a Biomarker of Symptoms of Depression in the Perinatal Period. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2023; 22:71-83. [PMID: 35297354 DOI: 10.2174/1871527321666220316122605] [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: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a sensitive period when women experience major hormonal and psychological changes. A high prevalence of the symptoms of depression and manifested major depression rates have been reported during this period, leading to negative outcomes both for mothers and the offspring. Despite its prevalence, the aetiology of depression is not yet fully understood. Nonetheless, alterations in cortisol levels have been proposed as a reliable biomarker to identify pregnant women at risk of perinatal depression. Hair cortisol has recently been extensively used in bio-psychological studies as a suitable non-invasive biomarker for several neuropsychiatric disorders. Various studies have published evidence regarding the relationship between cortisol fluctuations during the perinatal period, measured both in hair and in other substrates, and the onset of perinatal symptoms of depression. This current review provides an overview of cortisol level changes measured in women's hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period and its association with perinatal symptoms of depression. Further studies, including repetitive measurement of both hair cortisol and depression throughout the prenatal period, must be performed to clarify the relationship between cortisol levels and perinatal symptoms of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisrin El Mlili
- Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et Techniques de Santé (ISPITS), Tetouan, Morocco
- Department of Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Hanan Ahabrach
- Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et Techniques de Santé (ISPITS), Tetouan, Morocco
- Department of Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Group (FROG), University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
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Wang S, Zhang C, Sun M, Zhang D, Luo Y, Liang K, Xu T, Pan X, Zheng R, Shangguan F, Wang J. Effectiveness of mindfulness training on pregnancy stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in women in China: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1073494. [PMID: 36935954 PMCID: PMC10018028 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1073494] [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: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In the past two decades, mindfulness-based intervention programs have gradually become popular.Many studies have confirmed that these programs can effectively alleviate prenatal stress and negative emotion.The mindfulness-based stress-buffering hypothesis suggests that mindfulness training can induce changes in the levels of the cortisol secreted by the HPA axis, thereby reducing stress susceptibility. However, to date, only a few high-quality evidence-based medical studies have analyzed the effect of the mindfulness-based intervention in a maternal population.Thus, this study investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention on pregnancy stress and the HYPERLINK "javascript:;" hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of pregnant Chinese women. Methods Women experiencing first-time pregnancy (n = 117) were randomly allocated to the intervention group or parallel active control group, and data were collected at baseline and post-intervention periods. The participants completed questionnaires regarding mindfulness and pregnancy stress. Saliva samples was collected at the time of waking up, and 30, 45, and 60 min after waking up for analyzing the salivary cortisol levels. We analyzed differences between the two groups and changes within the same group before and after the intervention. Results and discussion A total of 95 participants completed the trial. Compared with the parallel active control group, the intervention group exhibited lower levels of stress after the intervention (P = 0.047). For HPA-axis-related indicators after the intervention, Delta value (P = 0.01) and AUCM value (P = 0.031) of the intervention group were significantly higher than that of the control group. Mindfulness-based interventions effectively reduced the level of pregnancy stress and adjusted the HPA axis function in pregnant women in China. Clinical Trial Registration https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR 2000033149.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulei Wang
- National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC, Beijing, China
- Yantai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Fengtai Mental Health Center, Beijing, China
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengyun Sun
- National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Daming Zhang
- Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Ying Luo
- Shandong Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Kairu Liang
- Sichuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Tao Xu
- National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - XiaoPing Pan
- National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Ruimin Zheng
- National Center for Women and Children’s Health, China CDC, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Ruimin Zheng,
| | - Fangfang Shangguan
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
- Fangfang Shangguan,
| | - Jia Wang
- Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Jia Wang,
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14
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Reid BM, Sokol N, Aubuchon-Endsley NL, Stroud LR. Maternal prenatal cortisol and the interaction of income and pre-pregnancy body mass index are independently associated with newborn cortisol. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22354. [PMID: 36567656 PMCID: PMC9940703 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22354] [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: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
While extensive research has supported the developmental programming hypothesis regarding contributions of prenatal psychosocial or nutritional adversity to offspring stress physiology, fewer studies consider both exposures together with maternal stress physiology. This study examined newborn cortisol output during a stressor as a function of maternal pre-pregnancy health status and nutritional history (pre-pregnancy body mass index [PPBMI]), economic resources (household income), and maternal cortisol awakening response (mCAR) in late pregnancy. Participants were 102 mother-infant pairs from an economically and racial/ethnically diverse sample. Offspring salivary cortisol response to a neurobehavioral exam was assessed at 1 month. Income and maternal PPBMI were positively associated with mCAR in late pregnancy. mCAR was positively related to 1-month newborn cortisol response. The interaction of income and PPBMI was positively associated with newborn cortisol output during an exam at 1-month. Mothers with the highest PPBMI and lowest income had offspring with higher cortisol responses than offspring of mothers with higher income and lower PPBMI. There was no evidence of indirect mediation effects of predictors (PPBMI, income, and interaction) on infant cortisol via mCAR. The differential effects of the interaction of PPBMI and income suggest that these exposures influence infant cortisol output in the context of one another, independent of maternal pregnancy cortisol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brie M. Reid
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Natasha Sokol
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Laura R. Stroud
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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15
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Ali EH, Alkindi S, Mohamed AO, Awadalla KE, Abdlgadir O, Adam G, Magdi M, Ibrahim AK, Ghebremeskel K. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Sickle Cell Trait: a Prospective Cohort Study Evaluating Clinical and Haematological Parameters in Postpartum Mothers and Newborns. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2023; 15:e2023002. [PMID: 36660349 PMCID: PMC9833303 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2023.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sickle cell trait (SCT) is a congenital condition caused by the inheritance of a single allele of the abnormal haemoglobin beta gene, HbS. Carriers of SCT are generally asymptomatic, and they do not manifest the clinical and haematological abnormalities of sickle cell anaemia (SCA). However, there is evidence that they display some symptoms in stressful situations. Pregnancy is a stressful physiological event, and it is not clear if SCT adversely affects pregnancy outcomes, particularly in those from developing countries where people regularly suffer from nutritional insufficiency. Objective This study aims to investigate pregnancy outcomes in Sudanese women with SCT. Subjects and methods: Pregnant women with (HbAS, n=34) and without (HbAA, n=60) SCT were recruited during their first trimester at El Obeid Hospital, Kordofan, Western Sudan. Following appropriate ethical approval and informed consent from the participants, detailed anthropometric, clinical, haematological, obstetric, and birth outcome data were registered. In addition, blood samples were collected at enrolment and at delivery. Results At enrolment in the first trimester, the SCT group did not manifest SCA symptoms, and there was no difference in the haematological parameters between the SCT and control groups. However, at delivery, the women with SCT, compared with the control group, had lower levels of hemoglobin (Hb, p=0.000), packed cell volume (PCV, p=0.000), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH, p=0.002) and neutrophil counts (p=0.045) and higher mean corpuscular volume (MCV, p=0.000) and platelet counts (p=0.000). Similarly, at delivery, the babies of SCT women had lower birth weight (p=0.000), lower Hb (p=0.045), PCV (p=0.000), MCH (p=0.000), and higher neutrophil (p=0.004) and platelet counts (p=0.000) than the babies of the healthy control group. Additionally, there were more miscarriages, stillbirths, and admissions to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in the SCT group. Conclusions The study revealed that SCT is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including maternal and neonatal anaemia, low birth weight, and increased risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, and admission to SCBU. Therefore, pregnant women with SCT should be given appropriate pre-conceptual advice and multidisciplinary antenatal and postnatal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- E H Ali
- Lipidomics and Nutrition Research Centre, School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, UK
| | - S Alkindi
- Department of Haematology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - A O Mohamed
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - O Abdlgadir
- Sudan Sickle Cell Anaemia Centre, El Obeid - SUDAN
| | - G Adam
- Faculty of Education, Al Azhri University, Sudan
| | - M Magdi
- Directorate of Planning, Ministry of Health Oman, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | - A K Ibrahim
- Sudan Sickle Cell Anaemia Centre, El Obeid - SUDAN
| | - K Ghebremeskel
- Lipidomics and Nutrition Research Centre, School of Human Sciences, London Metropolitan University, UK
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16
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Hantsoo L, Duffy KA, Sammel M, Johnson RL, Kim D, Grillon C, Epperson CN. Enduring impact of childhood adversity: Affective modulation of acoustic startle response during pregnancy and postpartum. Physiol Behav 2023; 258:114031. [PMID: 36402424 PMCID: PMC9762518 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) enter pregnancy and the postpartum with a physiologic system programmed by early life stress, potentially reflected in psychophysiologic reactivity. METHODS We enrolled pregnant, psychiatrically healthy women ≥18 years old. Using the ACE Questionnaire, women were categorized as high (≥2 ACEs; n = 77) or low ACE (<2 ACEs; n = 72). Participants completed an affective modulation of acoustic startle response (ASR) task during pregnancy and postpartum, in which ASR magnitude was measured while participants viewed pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral pictures. Two types of control trials were included (habituation trials presented at baseline and intertrial interval trials presented when no picture was present). RESULTS Among high ACE women, ASR was significantly higher postpartum compared with pregnancy in the unpleasant (p = 0.002, β = 0.46, 95% CI [0.18, 0.74], χ2 = 10.12, z = 3.18) and intertrial interval trials (p = 0.002, β = 0.44, 95% CI [0.16, 0.73], χ2 = 9.25, z = 3.04), accounting for multiple comparisons using a Bonferroni correction at p < 0.005. Among low ACE women, ASR was similar in pregnancy and postpartum. CONCLUSIONS Physiological reactivity increased in high ACE women from pregnancy to postpartum, but no change was observed in low ACE women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Hantsoo
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 550 N. Broadway Street, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Korrina A Duffy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States
| | - Mary Sammel
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, 13001 E. 17(th) Place, Mail Stop B119, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States
| | - Rachel L Johnson
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, 13001 E. 17(th) Place, Mail Stop B119, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States
| | - Deborah Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Christian Grillon
- National Institute of Mental Health, 15K North Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States
| | - C Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States; Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States
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17
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Situmorang DDB. Dancing during labor in the midst of COVID-19 outbreak: as an alternative non-pharmacological treatment after digital interventions. J Public Health (Oxf) 2022; 44:e617-e618. [PMID: 34344023 PMCID: PMC8385837 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
As a result of this writing, I encourage future academics to conduct further study on what sorts of music and movements are acceptable for women during birth, as this is a highly intriguing issue, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. Music and dance can also be used as an alternative to non-pharmacological treatments, so that enough pregnant women can be assisted and their tension and anxiety during delivery can be decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominikus David Biondi Situmorang
- Department of Guidance and Counseling, Faculty of Education and Language, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, 12930, Indonesia
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18
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Wang Z, Qian R, Xiang W, Sun L, Xu M, Zhang B, Yang L, Zhu S, Zeng L, Yang W. Association between noise exposure during pregnancy and pregnancy complications: A meta-analysis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1026996. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1026996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundNoise exposure has a significant impact on human health. However, the effect of occupational and residential noise on the risk of pregnancy complications was controversial in the literature. This study looked at previous research and performed a meta-analysis to determine how noise exposure during pregnancy affected the risk of pregnancy complications.MethodsSystematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane, and all relevant studies were included. Two investigators independently evaluated the eligibility of these studies. The risk of bias in each study and the quality and strength of each outcome was evaluated by using the GRADE approach and Navigation Guide. Random effects meta-analysis model was used.ResultsThe meta-analysis retrieved 1,461 study records and finally included 11 studies. Occupational noise exposure during pregnancy was associated with preeclampsia (RR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.10). Neither occupational nor residential noise exposure was associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (RR = 1.10, 95%CI: 0.96, 1.25 and RR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.98, 1.11) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (RR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.88, 1.00 and RR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.98, 1.16). Further bias analysis showed that the results were reliable. All outcomes were rated as low in quality and inadequate evidence of harmfulness in strength.ConclusionsOccupational noise exposure could increase the risk of preeclampsia, according to the findings. There was no clear evidence of a harmful effect of noise exposure during pregnancy on HDP or GDM.
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19
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Bruinhof N, Vacaru SV, van den Heuvel MI, de Weerth C, Beijers R. Prenatal hair cortisol concentrations during the COVID-19 outbreak: Associations with maternal psychological stress and infant temperament. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 144:105863. [PMID: 35868205 PMCID: PMC9270179 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy, including stress resulting from disasters and trauma, has been linked to temperamental difficulties in offspring. Although heightened cortisol concentrations are often hypothesized as an underlying mechanism, evidence supporting this mechanism is not consistent, potentially because of methodological issues and low stress in the population. AIM To address these issues, this preregistered study investigated the following associations between: 1) prenatal psychological stress and hair cortisol, as a biomarker for chronic stress, during the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., as a major worldwide psychological stressor), and 2) maternal hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak and later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. Additionally, we explored whether associations were different for women with low versus high socioeconomic status (SES; maternal education and annual household income) and at different stages of pregnancy. METHOD Pregnant women (N = 100) filled out online questionnaires during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Six months later, when most mothers were still pregnant or had just given birth, maternal hair samples were collected during home visits. When infants were six months old, mothers reported on their infant's temperament. RESULTS Although hierarchical regression analyses revealed no associations between prenatal COVID-19 psychological stress and hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak, SES proved to be a moderator in this association. Only pregnant women with higher levels of SES, not lower levels, showed a positive association between work-related and social support-related COVID-19 worries and hair cortisol. Finally, prenatal hair cortisol was not associated with later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. CONCLUSION Although the COVID-19 outbreak proved to be a major psychological stressor worldwide, the physiological impact of the crisis might be different for pregnant women with higher SES as compared to lower SES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Bruinhof
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Stefania V. Vacaru
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands,Department of Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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20
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Tyborowska A, Gruber K, Beijers R, Kühn S, Roelofs K, de Weerth C. No evidence for association between late pregnancy maternal cortisol and gray matter volume in a healthy community sample of young adolescents. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:893847. [PMID: 36117621 PMCID: PMC9470950 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.893847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A compelling amount of animal and human research has shown that perceived maternal stress during pregnancy can affect the neurodevelopment of the offspring. Prenatal maternal cortisol is frequently proposed as the biological key mechanism underlying this link; however, literature that investigates the effects of prenatal cortisol on subsequent neurodevelopment in humans is scarce. By using longitudinal data from a relatively large community sample of mother-child dyads (N = 73), this pre-registered study prospectively examined the role of maternal prenatal cortisol concentrations on subsequent individual differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and hippocampal subfield volumes at the onset of puberty of the offspring (12 years of age). Two markers of cortisol, that is, evening cortisol and circadian decline over the day, were used as indicators of maternal physiological stress during the last trimester of pregnancy. The results indicate that prenatal maternal cortisol levels were not associated with GMV or hippocampal subfield volumes of the children. These findings suggest that late pregnancy maternal cortisol may not be related to the structural development of the offspring's brain, at least not in healthy community samples and at the onset of puberty. When examining the influence of prenatal stress on offspring neurodevelopment, future investigations should delineate gestational timing effects of the cortisol exposure, cortisol assessment method, and impact of additional biomarkers, as these were not investigated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tyborowska
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Katharina Gruber
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Simone Kühn
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karin Roelofs
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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21
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Padin AC, Stevens NR, Che ML, Erondu IN, Perera MJ, Shalowitz MU. Screening for PTSD during pregnancy: a missed opportunity. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:487. [PMID: 35701731 PMCID: PMC9195376 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04797-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prenatal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often overlooked in obstetric care, despite evidence that untreated PTSD negatively impacts both mother and baby. OB-GYN clinics commonly screen for depression in pregnant patients; however, prenatal PTSD screening is rare. Although the lack of PTSD screening likely leaves a significant portion of pregnant patients with unaddressed mental health needs, the size of this care gap has not been previously investigated. Methods This retrospective chart review study included data from 1,402 adult, pregnant patients who completed PTSD (PTSD Checklist-2; PCL) and depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Survey; EPDS) screenings during a routine prenatal care visit. Descriptive statistics identified screening rates for PTSD and depression, and logistic regression analyses identified demographic variables associated with screening outcomes and assessed whether screening results (+ PCL/ + EPDS, + PCL/-EPDS, -PCL/ + EPDS, -PCL/-EPDS) were associated with different provider intervention recommendations. Results 11.1% of participants screened positive for PTSD alone, 3.8% for depression alone, and 5.4% for both depression and PTSD. Black (OR = 2.24, 95% CI [1.41,3.54]) and Latinx (OR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.01,2.66]) patients were more likely to screen positive for PTSD compared to White patients, while those on public insurance were 1.64 times (95% CI [1.21,2.22]) more likely to screen positive compared to those with private insurance. Patients who screened positive for both depression and PTSD were most likely to receive referrals for behavioral health services (44.6%), followed by -PCL/ + EPDS (32.6%), + PCL/-EPDS (10.5%), and -PCL/-EPDS (3.6%). A similar pattern emerged for psychotropic medication prescriptions. Conclusions Over ten percent of pregnant patients in the current study screened positive for PTSD without depression, highlighting a critical mental health need left unaddressed by current obstetric standards of care. Routine PTSD screening during prenatal care alongside strategies aimed at increasing referral resources and access to mental health services are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avelina C Padin
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - Natalie R Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Mandy L Che
- College of Medicine, Rush University, Chicago, USA
| | | | - Marisa J Perera
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Madeleine U Shalowitz
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.,College of Medicine, Rush University, Chicago, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
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22
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Curtis DS, Smith KR, Chae DH, Washburn T, Lee H, Kim J, Kramer MR. Highly public anti-Black violence and preterm birth odds for Black and White mothers. SSM Popul Health 2022; 18:101112. [PMID: 35535210 PMCID: PMC9077530 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly public anti-Black violence may increase preterm birth in the general population of pregnant women via stress-mediated paths, particularly Black women exposed in early gestation. To examine spillover from racial violence in the US, we included a total of 49 high publicity incidents of the following types: police lethal force toward Black persons, legal decisions not to indict/convict officers involved, and hate crime murders of Black victims. National search interest in these incidents was measured via Google Trends to proxy for public awareness of racial violence. Timing of racial violence was coded in relation to a three-month preconception period and subsequent pregnancy trimesters, with the primary hypothesis being that first trimester exposure is associated with higher preterm birth odds. The national sample included 1.6 million singleton live births to US-born Black mothers and 6.6 million births to US-born White mothers from 2014 to 2017. Using a preregistered analysis plan, findings show that Black mothers had 5% higher preterm birth odds when exposed to any high publicity racial incidents relative to none in their first trimester, and 2-3% higher preterm birth odds with each log10 increase in national interest. However, post hoc sensitivity tests that included month fixed effects attenuated these associations to null. For White mothers, associations were smaller but of a similar pattern, and were attenuated when including month fixed effects. Highly public anti-Black violence may act as a national stressor, yet whether racial violence is associated with reproductive outcomes in the population is unknown and merits further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S. Curtis
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Ken R. Smith
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - David H. Chae
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Tessa Washburn
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Hedwig Lee
- Department of Sociology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Jaewhan Kim
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Michael R. Kramer
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
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23
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Naya CH, Toledo-Corral CM, Chavez T, Lerner D, Lurvey N, Eckel SP, Peterson AK, Grubbs BH, Dunton GF, Breton CV, Bastain TM. Third trimester cortisol is positively associated with gestational weight gain in pregnant women with class one obesity. Int J Obes (Lond) 2022; 46:366-373. [PMID: 34718334 PMCID: PMC9012147 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-021-01009-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Prevalence of pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are higher among women of color with low SES. Dysregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and its end-product, cortisol, during pregnancy is hypothesized to be associated with excessive GWG. However, past studies have produced inconsistent findings and often did not include health disparities populations. This study examined the association between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), third trimester diurnal cortisol, and GWG in low-income, predominantly Hispanic women. SUBJECTS/METHODS The MADRES study is an ongoing prospective cohort study of primarily Hispanic, low-income pregnant women and their children in Los Angeles, California. Data from 176 participants were included in this study. Total cortisol secretion (area under the curve, AUC) was quantified using four salivary cortisol samples (awakening, 30 min after awakening, afternoon, and bedtime) that were collected at home on one day during the third trimester of pregnancy. Moderation of the association between total cortisol and GWG by pre-pregnancy BMI was tested using multiple linear regression with a multiplicative interaction term. RESULTS There was no association between total cortisol secretion and GWG overall (p = 0.82), but the association between total cortisol and GWG was stronger for women with class 1 pre-pregnancy obesity compared to women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI (interaction term p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that obesity status before pregnancy may be exacerbating the physiological impact of cortisol on GWG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine H Naya
- 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
| | | | | | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alicia K Peterson
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brendan H Grubbs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 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
| | - 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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24
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It takes two: An antenatal to postnatal RDoC framework for investigating the origins of maternal attachment and mother–infant social communication. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 33:1539-1553. [DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTransformation of the maternal–fetal relationship into the mother–infant relationship remains an enigmatic process. This progression is considered using a Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) informed approach centered on domains of Arousal/Regulation, Positive/Negative Valence, and Social Processes. One hundred and fifty-eight maternal–fetal dyads began participation during pregnancy, maternal–infant dyads were followed at 6 months postpartum. Women exhibited stability in feelings of attachment to the fetus and infant, and in positive/negative appraisal of pregnancy and motherhood. Elicited maternal physiological arousal to emotionally evocative videos generated fetal heart rate variability and motor activity responses. Parasympathetic (i.e., heart rate variability) suppression in the fetus was associated with more positive and regulated infant social communication in the Face-to-Face Still Face protocol; suppression of maternal respiratory sinus arrhythmia was related to infant affect but in the opposite direction. Maternal ratings of infant temperament aligned with maternal antenatal affective valence. Attachment trajectories characterized by stability from antenatal to postnatal periods were most associated with maternal affective appraisal of pregnancy; shifts were influenced by infant characteristics and maternal sympathetic responsivity. Results illustrate how variation in arousal and regulatory systems of the pregnant woman and fetus operate within the context of maternal positive and negative valence systems to separately and jointly shape affiliation and temperament in early infancy.
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25
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Berthelon M, Kruger D, Sanchez R. Maternal stress during pregnancy and early childhood development. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2021; 43:101047. [PMID: 34340016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We estimate the impact of prenatal stress on early childhood development outcomes known as "middle years" or intermediate outcomes, which has not been studied previously. Using a unique measure of actual maternal stress induced by a large earthquake, we find that relative to children that were not exposed, in utero maternal stress reduces children's cognitive skills and socio-emotional problems by age 3, and that the effects are heterogeneous. The negative impacts on cognitive skills occur during the first trimester of pregnancy and are found among both low and high-income children, and boys and girls. The harmful effects on socio-emotional behaviors occur when stress is experienced in the last trimester of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias Berthelon
- Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, IZA and COES, Av. Padre Hurtado 750, Viña del Mar, Chile.
| | - Diana Kruger
- Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, IZA, COES, and PEP, Av. Padre Hurtado 750, Viña del Mar, Chile.
| | - Rafael Sanchez
- Universidad Diego Portales, CEP and IZA, Monseñor Sótero Sanz 162, Providencia, Chile.
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26
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Bogat GA, Wong K, Muzik M, Lonstein JS, Nuttall AK, Levendosky AK, Colao CF, Hall A, Cochran K, Forche KR, Koneczny A, Gareffa A, Oates O, Robinson S, Ballinger A, Stein SF. Conducting Virtual Assessments in Developmental Research: COVID-19 Restrictions as a Case Example. APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE 2021; 27:1-17. [PMID: 36704361 PMCID: PMC9873225 DOI: 10.1080/10888691.2021.1989305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Developmental researchers face considerable challenges regarding maximizing data collection and reducing participant attrition. In this article, we use our experiences implementing our study on the effects of timing of prenatal stress on maternal and infant outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic as a framework to discuss the difficulties and solutions for these challenges, including the development of two types of virtual assessments. Specific information regarding use of virtual platforms, confidentiality, engaging children during video conferencing, and modifying the major assessments of our research are discussed. Feasibility data are presented, and data analytic challenges regarding statistical inference are outlined. Finally, we conclude with some of the unintended positive consequences for our research that resulted from making these modifications to our original methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Anne Bogat
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | - Kristyn Wong
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | - Maria Muzik
- University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Psychiatry, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, 48109-5000 United States
| | - Joseph S Lonstein
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | - Amy K Nuttall
- Michigan State University, Human Development and Family Studies, 552 West Circle Drive, East Lansing, 48824 United States
| | - Alytia K Levendosky
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | - Cara F Colao
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | - Alanah Hall
- University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Psychiatry, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, 48109-5000 United States
| | - Kara Cochran
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | | | - Allison Koneczny
- University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Psychiatry, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, 48109-5000 United States
| | - Amanda Gareffa
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | - Olivia Oates
- University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Psychiatry, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, 48109-5000 United States
| | - Stephanie Robinson
- University of Michigan Michigan Medicine, Psychiatry, Rachel Upjohn Building, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, 48109-5000 United States
| | - Alexandra Ballinger
- Michigan State University, Psychology, 316 Physics Road, Room 262, Department of Psychology, East Lansing, 48824-1312 United States
| | - Sara F Stein
- University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, 48109 United States
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27
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Manigault AW, Shorey RC, Appelmann H, Hamilton KR, Scanlin MC, Juster RP, Zoccola PM. Gender roles are related to cortisol habituation to repeated social evaluative stressors in adults: secondary analyses from a randomized controlled trial. Stress 2021; 24:723-733. [PMID: 33797306 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2021.1892069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Masculine and feminine gender roles influence stressor appraisals and coping in everyday life, but their effect on stress response systems like the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis is unclear. Accordingly, the present study tested the association between gender roles and cortisol responses to repeated stress as part of secondary analyses of data from a randomized controlled trial examining the effects of stress management interventions on cortisol habituation. Participants (Nfinal = 86; 72% female) completed a baseline survey assessing gender role endorsement using the Bem Sex Role Inventory, from which 4 groups were derived: masculine (n = 20), feminine (n = 20), androgynous (high masculinity, high femininity; n = 22), and undifferentiated (low masculinity, low femininity; n = 24). Following the stress management intervention (mindfulness-based stress reduction or cognitive-behavioral skills training) or waitlist period control, participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test on two laboratory visits (48 h apart). Salivary cortisol was assessed 0, 25, 35, and 60 min post-stressor during both laboratory visits. Androgynous and undifferentiated individuals both exhibited a significant decrease in total cortisol from visit 1 to visit 2 (i.e. habituation) whereas feminine and masculine individuals did not. Undifferentiated individuals exhibited greater habituation than feminine and masculine individuals, whereas androgynous individuals only exhibited greater habituation than the feminine group. Controlling for study condition assignment did not alter these results. Results imply that gender roles may be implicated in stress-related disease because of their association with HPA axis functioning during episodes of acute stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan C Shorey
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Katrina R Hamilton
- Department of Psychological Science, Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Matt C Scanlin
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison- Population Health Institute, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Canada
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28
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Li J, Du Y, Liu Y, Du J, Zhang R, Qu P, Yan H, Wang D, Dang S. Maternal exposure to life events during pregnancy and congenital heart disease in offspring: a case-control study in a Chinese population. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:677. [PMID: 34615495 PMCID: PMC8496089 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04154-0] [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: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have suggested that maternal stress could increase the risk of some adverse pregnancy outcomes, but evidence on congenital heart disease (CHD) is limited. We aimed to explore the association between maternal exposure to life events during pregnancy and CHD in offspring. Methods The data was based on an unmatched case-control study about CHD conducted in Shaanxi province of China from 2014 to 2016. We included 2280 subjects, 699 in the case group and 1581 in the control group. The cases were infants or fetuses diagnosed with CHD, and the controls were infants without any birth defects. The life events were assessed by the Life Events Scale for Pregnant Women, and were divided into positive and negative events for synchronous analysis. A directed acyclic graph was drawn to screen the confounders. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the effects of life events on CHD. Results After controlling for the potential confounders, the pregnant women experiencing the positive events during pregnancy had lower risk of CHD in offspring than those without positive events (OR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.30 ~ 0.48). The risk of CHD in offspring could increase by 62% among the pregnant women experiencing the negative events compared to those without (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.29 ~ 2.03). Both effects showed a certain dose-response association. Besides, the positive events could weaken the risk impact of negative events on CHD. Conclusion It may suggest that maternal exposure to negative life events could increase the risk of CHD in offspring, while experiencing positive events could play a potential protective role. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-021-04154-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yujiao Du
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yini Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jiaoyang Du
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ruo Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Pengfei Qu
- Assisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710003, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Hong Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Duolao Wang
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Shaonong Dang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
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29
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Armijos Bravo G, Vall Castelló J. Terrorist attacks, Islamophobia and newborns' health. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2021; 79:102510. [PMID: 34375853 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2021.102510] [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: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Islamophobia has increased in the last years, in part, due to terrorist attacks perpetrated by jihadist groups. This phenomenon might be a source of stress, being particularly problematic for pregnant (Muslim) women. We examine how stress generated by the 2017 Catalonia (Spain) attacks affected the health of newborns whose mothers are from a Muslim country (as the perpetrators). We use a difference-in-differences-in-differences model comparing newborns whose mothers come from a Muslim country and are residing in a municipality directly affected by the attacks, to other newborns, before-after the attacks. Results show that the share of low-birth-weight babies and deliveries with complications raise significantly by 23.77%, and 13.02%. We document a significant increase in Islamophobia and in emotional distress in our group of interest. We conclude that Islamophobia-related stress is possibly one of the channels affecting health at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Armijos Bravo
- Department of Economics, Universitat de Barcelona & Instituto de Economía de Barcelona (IEB), Spain; Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Ecuador.
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30
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Shier AJ, Keogh T, Costello AM, Riordan AO, Gallagher S. Eveningness, depression and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress: A mediation model. Physiol Behav 2021; 240:113550. [PMID: 34371021 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The psychological pathways linking depression to blunted cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) are still being elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to test whether the association between eveningness, a diurnal/sleep-wake preference and CVR would be mediated by depressive symptoms. One hundred and eighty-two healthy young adults completed measures of morningness/eveningness (the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire; MEQ-SA), depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and had their blood pressure and heart rate monitored throughout a standardised stress testing protocol. Results indicated that depressive symptoms were negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) but not diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or heart rate (HR) reactions to the stress task. Eveningness was also negatively associated with both SBP and DBP, but not HR. As such, those who reported increased depressive symptomology, and higher scores on eveningness displayed a more blunted cardiovascular response. Furthermore, the latter relationship was mediated by depressive symptoms such that those reporting higher scores on eveningness also reported increased depressive symptomology and this resulted in blunted CVR for SBP. These findings withstood adjustment for several confounding factors including time of testing. In conclusion, the present findings highlight the importance of considering eveningness when looking at the depression-blunted CVR relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Shier
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Tracey Keogh
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aisling M Costello
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Adam O' Riordan
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
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Sex-dependent associations between maternal prenatal stressful life events, BMI trajectories and obesity risk in offspring: The Raine Study. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 7:100066. [PMID: 35757055 PMCID: PMC9216251 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Postpartum Stress and Neural Regulation of Emotion among First-Time Mothers. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:1066-1082. [PMID: 34128217 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Early parenting relies on emotion regulation capabilities, as mothers are responsible for regulating both their own emotional state and that of their infant during a time of new parenting-related neural plasticity and potentially increased stress. Previous research highlights the importance of frontal cortical regions in facilitating effective emotion regulation, but few studies have investigated the neural regulation of emotion among postpartum women. The current study employed a functional neuroimaging (fMRI) approach to explore the association between perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and the neural regulation of emotion in first-time mothers. Among 59 postpartum mothers, higher perceived stress during the postpartum period was associated with less self-reported use of cognitive reappraisal in everyday life, and greater use of emotion suppression. While viewing standardized aversive images during the Emotion Regulation Task (ERT), mothers were instructed to experience their natural emotional state (Maintain) or to decrease the intensity of their negative emotion by using cognitive reappraisal (Reappraise). Whole-brain analysis revealed a two-way interaction of perceived stress x condition in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at p < .05 cluster-wise corrected, controlling for postpartum months and scanner type. Higher levels of perceived stress were associated with heightened right DLPFC activity while engaging in cognitive reappraisal versus naturally responding to negative stimuli. Higher right DLPFC activity during Reappraise versus Maintain was further associated with elevated parenting stress. Findings suggest that stress and everyday reappraisal use is reflected in mothers' neural regulation of emotion and may have important implications for their adaptation to parenthood.
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33
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Tung I, Krafty RT, Delcourt ML, Melhem NM, Jennings JR, Keenan K, Hipwell AE. Cardiac vagal control in response to acute stress during pregnancy: Associations with life stress and emotional support. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13808. [PMID: 33713448 PMCID: PMC8169537 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Life stressors during pregnancy can disrupt maternal stress regulation and negatively impact offspring health. Despite the important role of cardiac vagal control (e.g., heart rate variability; HRV) in stress regulation, few studies have investigated how life stressors and emotional support influence vagal control during pregnancy. This study aimed to (a) characterize patterns of cardiac vagal control in response to a stressor administered in pregnancy, and (b) examine the effects of life stress and emotional support on vagal control during rest, reactivity, and recovery. Participants included 191 pregnant women (79% Black; 21% White) living in an urban U.S. city (73% receiving public assistance). Heart rate (HR) and HRV (indexed by RMSSD) were recorded continually during the preparation, task, and recovery periods of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Participants reported recent life stressors (e.g., relationship problems, financial hardship) and emotional support. Piecewise growth curve modeling was used to model rates of reactivity and recovery, adjusting for gestational age at time of assessment and recent health problems. Life stress predicted greater HR and HRV reactivity to the TSST as well as greater HRV recovery (vagal rebound). However, associations were only evident for women reporting high emotional support. Results suggest that pregnant women living with frequent life stressors may exhibit more rapid autonomic responses to acute stress, including more rapid vagal rebound after stressors, potentially reflecting physiological adaptation to anticipated high-stress environments; emotional support may enhance these responses. Studies are needed to investigate long-term health outcomes related to this stress response pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Tung
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Robert T. Krafty
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, GA
| | - Meaghan L. Delcourt
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Nadine M. Melhem
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - J. Richard Jennings
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Kate Keenan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Alison E. Hipwell
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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34
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Kaliush PR, Terrell S, Vlisides-Henry RD, Lin B, Neff D, Shakiba N, Conradt E, Crowell SE. Influences of adversity across the lifespan on respiratory sinus arrhythmia during pregnancy. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22132. [PMID: 34053065 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
There is limited understanding of factors across the lifespan that influence pregnant women's respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), which could have implications for their health and offspring development. We examined associations among 162 English- and Spanish-speaking pregnant women's childhood maltreatment history, emotion dysregulation, recent life stress, and resting RSA during the third trimester. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that more severe childhood maltreatment history (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.26, 0.63]) and higher emotion dysregulation (95% CI [0.001, 0.006]) predicted more stress during pregnancy, and childhood maltreatment history interacted with emotion dysregulation to predict resting RSA (95% CI [-0.04, -0.0003]). Exploratory analyses revealed that women's health-related stress during pregnancy mediated the relation between emotion dysregulation and RSA regardless of childhood maltreatment severity (95% CI [-0.007, -0.002]). These findings suggest that women's resting RSA during pregnancy may reflect physical and emotional stress accumulation across the lifespan and that relations between early life adversity and prenatal psychophysiology may be buffered by protective factors, such as emotion regulation. In addition, these findings underscore the importance of distinguishing between types of prenatal stress. Given the implications for women's health and offspring development, we urge researchers to continue exploring factors associated with pregnant women's psychophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Terrell
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Betty Lin
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, New York, USA
| | - Dylan Neff
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Utah, USA
| | - Nila Shakiba
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Utah, USA
| | - Elisabeth Conradt
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Utah, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Utah, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah, Utah, USA
| | - Sheila E Crowell
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Utah, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah, Utah, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Utah, USA
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Yirmiya K, Yakirevich-Amir N, Preis H, Lotan A, Atzil S, Reuveni I. Women's Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4298. [PMID: 33919564 PMCID: PMC8072624 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has multiple ramifications for pregnant women. Untreated depression during pregnancy may have long-term effects on the mother and offspring. Therefore, delineating the effects of pregnancy on the mental health of reproductive-age women is crucial. This study aims to determine the risk for depressive symptoms in pregnant and non-pregnant women during COVID-19, and to identify its bio-psycho-social contributors. A total of 1114 pregnant and 256 non-pregnant women were recruited via social media in May 2020 to complete an online survey that included depression and anxiety questionnaires, as well as demographic, obstetric and COVID-19-related questionnaires. Pregnant women also completed the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS). Pregnant women reported fewer depressive symptoms and were less concerned that they had COVID-19 than non-pregnant women. Among pregnant women, risk factors for depression included lower income, fewer children, unemployment, thinking that one has COVID-19, high-risk pregnancy, earlier gestational age, and increased pregnancy-related stress. Protective factors included increased partner support, healthy behaviors, and positive appraisal of the pregnancy. Thus, being pregnant is associated with reduced risk for depressive symptoms during the pandemic. Increased social support, engaging in health behaviors and positive appraisal may enhance resilience. Future studies of pregnant versus non-pregnant women could clarify the role of pregnancy during stressful events, and clarify aspects of susceptibility and resilience during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Yirmiya
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel;
- Interdisciplinary Center, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Herzlia 4610101, Israel
| | - Noa Yakirevich-Amir
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103401, Israel; (N.Y.-A.); (A.L.)
| | - Heidi Preis
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
| | - Amit Lotan
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103401, Israel; (N.Y.-A.); (A.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
| | - Shir Atzil
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel;
| | - Inbal Reuveni
- Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103401, Israel; (N.Y.-A.); (A.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel
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Hair Cortisol Concentrations Are Associated with Dental Anxiety during Pregnancy. Dent J (Basel) 2021; 9:dj9040042. [PMID: 33920415 PMCID: PMC8069593 DOI: 10.3390/dj9040042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dental anxiety (DA) and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) are associated with psychological symptoms and vary during pregnancy. We aimed to examine the association between HCC and DA at two points of pregnancy. Participants were pregnant mothers (n = 533) drawn from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study donating a hair sample at gestational week (gwk) 24 (n = 442) and/or at delivery (n = 176) and completed questionnaires on DA. Two groups, HCC1 and HCC2, treated as separate in the analyses, were formed according to the hair sample donation time i.e., gwk24 and delivery. 85 subjects were included in both groups. MDAS, EPDS, and SCL-90 were used to measure DA, depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively, at gwk14 for the HCC1 group and gwk34 for the HCC2 group. The association between DA and HCC was studied with a binary logistic regression model, adjusted for anxiety and depressive symptoms, age, BMI, and smoking status. Individuals with high DA had lower HCC levels at gwk24 (OR = 0.548; 95% CI = 0.35–0.86; p = 0.009), but the association was not statistically significant at the delivery (OR = 0.611; 95% CI = 0.28–1.33; p = 0.216). The independent association between HCC and DA in pregnant women suggests that long-term cortisol levels could play a role in the endogenous etiology of DA. Further studies are however, needed.
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Effects of ectoparasite infestation during pregnancy on physiological stress and reproductive output in a rodent-flea system. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:659-666. [PMID: 33713646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Biotic and abiotic stressors impose various fitness costs on individuals across a variety of taxa. In vertebrates, these stressors typically trigger complex neuroendocrine responses that stimulate glucocorticoid (GC) secretion from the adrenal cortex. Short-term elevation of GCs can be adaptive as it shifts energy toward physiological processes that cope with acute stressors; however, chronic increases in GC levels could have detrimental effects on fitness. Parasitism can be considered an important biotic stressor in nature and a possible cause of reproductive failure that could substantially affect an individual's fitness. Thus, we aimed to test the effects of parasitism and maternal stress, as measured by GCs, during pregnancy and the relationship between these variables and measures of reproductive output using a rodent-flea system. Female Egyptian spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) were randomly assigned to flea (Parapulex chephrenis) infested or uninfested treatments before and during pregnancy. The offspring of these females were flea-free. Feces were collected at five time points during the experiment to determine maternal fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGCM) concentrations. Overall, infested females had lower FGCM levels during gestation but higher FGCM levels post-parturition and larger mass changes than uninfested females. Additionally, models related to pup quality and quantity often included some measure of maternal investment or body condition moderating relationships between infestation and stress. This suggests that flea parasitism or high GC levels alone might not significantly impact host reproduction but rather females can experience different effects depending on their level of investment, which could be limited by body condition and/or the number of pups present in a litter.
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Music Therapy as a Nonpharmacological Intervention for Pregnant Women During COVID-19 Outbreak. ADDICTIVE DISORDERS & THEIR TREATMENT 2021. [PMCID: PMC8035977 DOI: 10.1097/adt.0000000000000230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Paquin V, Lapierre M, Veru F, King S. Early Environmental Upheaval and the Risk for Schizophrenia. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2021; 17:285-311. [PMID: 33544627 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-103805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Why does prenatal exposure to wars, natural disasters, urbanicity, or winter increase the risk for schizophrenia? Research from the last two decades has provided rich insight about the underlying chains of causation at play during environmental upheaval, from conception to early infancy. In this review, we appraise the evidence linking schizophrenia spectrum disorder to prenatal maternal stress, obstetric complications, early infections, and maternal nutrition and other lifestyle factors. We discuss putative mechanisms, including the maternal stress system, perinatal hypoxia, and maternal-offspring immune activation. We propose that gene-environment interactions, timing during development, and sex differentiate the neuropsychiatric outcomes. Future research should pursue the translation of animal studies to humans and the longitudinal associations between early exposures, intermediate phenotypes, and psychiatric disorders. Finally, to paint a comprehensive model of risk and to harness targets for prevention, we argue that risk factors should be situated within the individual's personal ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Paquin
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Mylène Lapierre
- Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada
| | - Franz Veru
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Suzanne King
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 1A1, Canada; .,Douglas Research Centre, Montréal, Québec H4H 1R3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada
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Davis EP, Narayan AJ. Pregnancy as a period of risk, adaptation, and resilience for mothers and infants. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:1625-1639. [PMID: 33427164 PMCID: PMC7863987 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579420001121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The pregnancy period represents a unique window of opportunity to identify risks to both the fetus and mother and to deter the intergenerational transmission of adversity and mental health problems. Although the maternal-fetal dyad is especially vulnerable to the effects of stress during pregnancy, less is known about how the dyad is also receptive to salutary, resilience-promoting influences. The present review adopts life span and intergenerational perspectives to review four key areas of research. The first part describes how pregnancy is a sensitive period for both the mother and fetus. In the second part, the focus is on antecedents of maternal prenatal risks pertaining to prenatal stress response systems and mental health. The third part then turns to elucidating how these alterations in prenatal stress physiology and mental health problems may affect infant and child outcomes. The fourth part underscores how pregnancy is also a time of heightened fetal receptivity to maternal and environmental signals, with profound implications for adaptation. This section also reviews empirical evidence of promotive and protective factors that buffer the mother and fetus from developmental and adaptational problems and covers a sample of rigorous evidence-based prenatal interventions that prevent maladaptation in the maternal-fetal dyad before babies are born. Finally, recommendations elaborate on how to further strengthen understanding of pregnancy as a period of multilevel risk and resilience, enhance comprehensive prenatal screening, and expand on prenatal interventions to promote maternal-fetal adaptation before birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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Jacobson C, Bruce M, Kenyon PR, Lockwood A, Miller D, Refshauge G, Masters DG. A review of dystocia in sheep. Small Rumin Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Nepomnaschy PA, Rowlands A, Prescivalli Costa AP, Salvante KG. Socio-Ecological Challenges as Modulators of Women's Reproductive Trajectories. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anthro-102317-045930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Amenorrhea, anovulatory cycles, miscarriages, and other reproductive outcomes are often seen as pathological. Life history theory, in contrast, treats those outcomes as adaptations that helped women optimize the timing of reproductive ventures across our evolutionary history. Women's bodies adjust their reproductive strategies in response to socio-ecological conditions, a process mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). Here, we review the links between socio-ecological conditions, HPAA activity, and the pace of women's reproductive transitions such as puberty, age at first birth, interbirth interval, and perimenopause. We also discuss the HPAA's role as a modulator of reproductive function: It not only suppresses it but may also prime women's bodies for future reproductive ventures. We conclude by reviewing challenges and opportunities within our subfield, including the need for transdisciplinary teams to develop longitudinal studies to improve our understanding of women's reproductive trajectories and outcomes from the moment they are conceived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A. Nepomnaschy
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Amanda Rowlands
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Ana Paula Prescivalli Costa
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
| | - Katrina G. Salvante
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences; and Crawford Laboratory of Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada;, , ,
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Jafari Z, Kolb BE, Mohajerani MH. Noise exposure accelerates the risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease: Adulthood, gestational, and prenatal mechanistic evidence from animal studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 117:110-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Abstract
In recent years, research in behavioral medicine has become increasingly focused on understanding how chronic and acute exposure to stress impacts health outcomes. During stress, the body’s physiological stress systems are activated. These systems closely interact with the immune system and are, thus, importantly implicated in the onset and maintenance of disease states. While much of the research in behavioral medicine that has investigated the effects of stress on disease has focused on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and its downstream biomarker, cortisol, it is evident that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) also plays a crucial role in both the biological stress process and the manifestation and maintenance of stress-related symptoms. In recent years salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) has emerged as a valid and reliable marker of ANS activity in stress research and is therefore an important biomarker to consider in behavioral medicine. In this commentary, we will highlight research relevant for behavioral medicine that has utilized sAA measurements, both basally, and in response to stress, to examine ANS function in clinical populations. We will additionally summarize findings from studies that have examined the effects of various targeted interventions on changes in sAA levels. Through this, our aim is to present evidence that sAA can serve as a feasible biomarker of ANS (dys)function in health and disease. To this end, we will also highlight important methodological considerations for readers to keep in mind when including sAA assessments in their own studies. The overarching goal of this brief commentary is to highlight how a multidimensional approach toward physiological stress measurement can allow researchers to develop a better understanding of physical health and disease states.
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Aatsinki AK, Keskitalo A, Laitinen V, Munukka E, Uusitupa HM, Lahti L, Kortesluoma S, Mustonen P, Rodrigues AJ, Coimbra B, Huovinen P, Karlsson H, Karlsson L. Maternal prenatal psychological distress and hair cortisol levels associate with infant fecal microbiota composition at 2.5 months of age. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 119:104754. [PMID: 32531627 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal prenatal stress associates with infant developmental outcomes, but the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Alterations in the composition and function of infant intestinal microbiota may mediate some of the observed health effects, a viewpoint that is supported by animal studies along with a small human study showing that exposure to prenatal stress modifies the offspring's intestinal microbiota. In the current study, we aim to investigate the associations between maternal prenatal psychological distress (PPD) and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) with infant fecal microbiota composition in a large prospective human cohort. METHODS The study population was drawn from FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Maternal PPD was measured with standardized questionnaires (EPDS, SCL, PRAQ-R2, Daily Hassles) three times during pregnancy (n = 398). A measure addressing the chronicity of PPD was composed separately for each questionnaire. HCC was measured from a five cm segment at gestational week 24 (n = 115), thus covering the early and mid-pregnancy. Infant fecal samples were collected at the age of 2.5 months and analyzed with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. RESULTS Maternal chronic PPD (all symptom measures) showed positive associations (FDR < 0.01) with bacterial genera from phylum Proteobacteria, with potential pathogens, in infants. Further, chronic PPD (SCL, PRAQ-R2, and Daily Hassles negative scale) associated negatively with Akkermansia. HCC associated negatively with Lactobacillus. Neither maternal chronic PPD nor HCC associated with infant fecal microbiota diversity. CONCLUSION Chronic maternal PPD symptoms and elevated HCC associate with alterations in infant intestinal microbiota composition. In keeping with the earlier literature, maternal PPD symptoms were associated with increases in genera fromProteobacteria phylum. Further research is needed to understand how these microbiota changes are linked with later child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Katariina Aatsinki
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Anniina Keskitalo
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Ville Laitinen
- Department of Future Technologies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eveliina Munukka
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Microbiome Biobank, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Henna-Maria Uusitupa
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Leo Lahti
- Department of Future Technologies, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Susanna Kortesluoma
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Paula Mustonen
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Ana João Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Coimbra
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pentti Huovinen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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Khoury JE, Bosquet Enlow M, Patwa MC, Lyons-Ruth K. Hair cortisol in pregnancy interacts with maternal depressive symptoms to predict maternal disrupted interaction with her infant at 4 months. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 62:768-782. [PMID: 32037544 PMCID: PMC7415595 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Disrupted maternal interaction in early infancy is associated with maladaptive child outcomes. Thus, identifying early risk factors for disrupted interaction is an important challenge. Research suggests that maternal depressive symptoms and maternal cortisol dysregulation are associated with disrupted maternal interaction, but both factors have rarely been considered together as independent or interactive predictors of disrupted interaction. In a sample of 51 women, hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) and depressive symptoms were assessed during pregnancy, and depressive symptoms were assessed again at 4-month postpartum. Maternal disrupted interaction was assessed during the Still-Face Paradigm at 4 months. Results indicated that HCC and depressive symptoms interacted to predict both maternal withdrawing and inappropriate/intrusive interaction. Withdrawing interaction was associated with high levels of HCC in pregnancy in the context of high depressive symptoms at 4 months; inappropriate/intrusive interaction was associated with high levels of HCC in the context of low depressive symptoms. Thus, high HCC potentiated both forms of disrupted interaction. Results raised questions about the meaning of very low reported depressive symptoms, and underscored the importance of chronic stress physiology and maternal depressed mood as risk factors for distinct forms of maternal disrupted interaction, both of which are deleterious for infant development.
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Asselmann E, Kunas SL, Wittchen HU, Martini J. Maternal personality, social support, and changes in depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms during pregnancy and after delivery: A prospective-longitudinal study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237609. [PMID: 32833975 PMCID: PMC7446870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The role of maternal personality and perceived social support for peripartum changes in psychopathological symptoms remains unresolved. Methods In a regional-epidemiological sample of 306 women, depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms were assessed three times during pregnancy and three times after delivery with the 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. In pregnancy, the Big Five personality traits and perceived social support were assessed with the short version of the Big Five Inventory and the Social Support Questionnaire. Results Multilevel analyses revealed that depressive (b = -0.055) and stress (b = -0.047) symptoms decreased from early to late pregnancy. After delivery, anxiety symptoms were lower (two months postpartum: b = -0.193; four/ 16 months postpartum: b = -0.274), but stress symptoms were higher (two months postpartum: b = 0.468; four/ 16 months postpartum: b = 0.320) than during pregnancy. Across the peripartum period, more conscientious and more extraverted women experienced lower depressive and stress symptoms (b = -0.147 to -0.177), and more emotionally stable women experienced lower depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms (b = -0.294 to -0.415). More emotionally stable women more strongly increased in anxiety during pregnancy (b = 0.019), and more extraverted women less strongly increased in depression after delivery (b = -0.010). Moreover, peripartum depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms were lower in women with higher perceived social support (b = -0.225 to -0.308). Conclusions Less emotionally stable, less conscientious, and less extraverted women and women with lower perceived social support seem to be at increased risk for peripartum psychopathological symptoms and might thus particularly profit from targeted prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Asselmann
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Stefanie L. Kunas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Wittchen
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Martini
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Leff-Gelman P, Flores-Ramos M, Carrasco AEÁ, Martínez ML, Takashima MFS, Coronel FMC, Labonne BF, Dosal JAZ, Chávez-Peón PB, Morales SG, Camacho-Arroyo I. Cortisol and DHEA-S levels in pregnant women with severe anxiety. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:393. [PMID: 32758184 PMCID: PMC7409431 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02788-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A complex interaction between cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) is crucial in the stress system balance; several studies have reported increased cortisol levels during chronic stress and a weak counter-regulation by DHEA-S. During pregnancy, scarce information about this system is available, although cortisol and DHEA-S play an important role in the initiation and acceleration of labor. We conducted the present study in order to determine both cortisol and DHEA-S levels during the last trimester of pregnancy in patients exhibiting severe anxiety. METHODS Pregnant women during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy were evaluated by using the self-reported version of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). According to the scores obtained from the psychometric scale, participants were divided into two groups: 1) patients exhibiting a cutoff score > 15 were considered with severe anxiety (ANX) (n = 101), and control pregnant subjects (CTRL) (n = 44) with a cutoff score < 5. Morning cortisol, DHEA-S and Cortisol/DHEA-S index were measured in all participants. Comparisons between groups were performed; additionally, correlations between clinical variables, biochemical data and HARS were calculated. RESULTS Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the ANX group (p < 0.001), whereas those of DHEA-S were significantly lower in the same group (p < 0.01) when compared to healthy pregnant subjects. An increased cortisol/DHEA-S index was observed in the ANX group (p < 0.05). A significant association between cortisol and HARS scores (p = 0.03), was observed even after adjusting by gestational weeks (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Our data support that the cortisol/DHEA-S index is higher in pregnant women with high anxiety levels as compared with healthy pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mónica Flores-Ramos
- grid.419154.c0000 0004 1776 9908Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, 14370 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico ,grid.418270.80000 0004 0428 7635Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología/CONACyT, 03940 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Margarita López Martínez
- grid.419218.70000 0004 1773 5302Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, 11000 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Fausto Manuel Cruz Coronel
- grid.414716.10000 0001 2221 3638Hospital General de México, Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, 06720 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Blanca Farfán Labonne
- grid.419218.70000 0004 1773 5302Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, 11000 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Saul Garza Morales
- grid.419218.70000 0004 1773 5302Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, 11000 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 CDMX Mexico City, Mexico
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Danel DP, Kalinowski K, Nowak-Szczepanska N, Ziomkiewicz-Wichary A, Apanasewicz A, Borysławski K, Kozieł S, Kornafel D, Fedurek P. Shifts in Female Facial Attractiveness during Pregnancy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17145176. [PMID: 32709046 PMCID: PMC7400433 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17145176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
It has been proposed that women’s physical attractiveness is a cue to temporal changes in fertility. If this is the case, we should observe shifts in attractiveness during pregnancy—a unique physiological state of temporal infertility. The aim of this study was to examine how women’s facial attractiveness changes during the subsequent trimesters of pregnancy and how it compares to that of nonpregnant women. Sixty-six pictures of pregnant women (22 pictures per trimester) and 22 of nonpregnant women (a control group) were used to generate four composite portraits, which were subsequently assessed for facial attractiveness by 117 heterosexual men. The results show considerable differences between facial attractiveness ratings depending on the status and progress of pregnancy. Nonpregnant women were perceived as the most attractive, and the attractiveness scores of pregnant women decreased throughout the course of pregnancy. Our findings show that facial attractiveness can be influenced by pregnancy and that gestation, even at its early stages, affects facial attractiveness. Considerable changes in women’s physiology that occur during pregnancy may be responsible for the observed effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz P. Danel
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-71-343-86-75
| | | | - Natalia Nowak-Szczepanska
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Anna Ziomkiewicz-Wichary
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Apanasewicz
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Krzysztof Borysławski
- Department of Anthropology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 51-631 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Sławomir Kozieł
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (N.N.-S.); (A.Z.-W.); (A.A.); (S.K.)
| | - Danuta Kornafel
- Department of Human Biology, University of Wroclaw, 50-138 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Pawel Fedurek
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA Stirling, UK;
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Yu M, Qiu T, Liu C, Cui Q, Wu H. The mediating role of perceived social support between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2020; 18:223. [PMID: 32650793 PMCID: PMC7348126 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-020-01479-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy can be stressful for women and families, so the life satisfaction of pregnant women may face significant challenges. This study aimed to identify the relationship among anxiety symptoms, perceived social support and life satisfaction, and to further explore whether perceived social support can play a mediating role. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September in Shenyang City, China in 2019. 290 effective questionnaires were collected. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) as well as demographic variables were included in each questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to explore the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction. Then the mediation model was examined by the PROCESS macro for SPSS. RESULTS After adjusting control variables, anxiety symptoms were negatively associated with life satisfaction and explained 14.7% of the variance. Higher level of perceived social support was related to higher level of life satisfaction, explaining 21.0% of the variance. Perceived social support partly mediated the relationship between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction for pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS Perceived social support played a mediating role between anxiety symptoms and life satisfaction among pregnant women. Strategies and measures to improve perceived social support may be expected to buffer the impact of anxiety symptoms on pregnant women's life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingli Yu
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Tian Qiu
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Chunli Liu
- Library, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Qi Cui
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China.
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