RESUMO
Prenatal stress can have a lasting effect on women's mental health after childbirth. The negative effects may be particularly salient in women from low income and ethnic minority backgrounds, who are at increased risk for postpartum depression. However, social support may have the potential to attenuate the negative impact of stress. The present study evaluated 269 Mexican American women (ages 18-42; 83 % Spanish-speaking; median income $10,000-$15,000) for prenatal stress (daily hassles, family stress, partner stress, and culture-specific stress) in relation to depressive symptoms 6 weeks postpartum. Prenatal social support was examined as a buffer against the impact of prenatal stress. Partner stress, family stress, and daily hassles uniquely predicted depressive symptoms. Moderate and high levels of social support attenuated risk for depression due to family stressors. Prenatal interpersonal and daily stressors negatively impact the mental health of women after birth, but social support can mitigate some of these effects. Among Mexican American pregnant women, effective interpersonal support and stress management may be associated with reduced risk for postpartum depression.
Assuntos
Depressão Pós-Parto , Americanos Mexicanos , Período Pós-Parto , Pobreza , Apoio Social , Estresse Psicológico , Adulto , Depressão Pós-Parto/diagnóstico , Depressão Pós-Parto/epidemiologia , Depressão Pós-Parto/prevenção & controle , Depressão Pós-Parto/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Americanos Mexicanos/estatística & dados numéricos , Saúde das Minorias/estatística & dados numéricos , Avaliação das Necessidades , Período Pós-Parto/etnologia , Período Pós-Parto/psicologia , Pobreza/psicologia , Pobreza/estatística & dados numéricos , Gravidez , Gestantes/psicologia , Fatores de Risco , Estresse Psicológico/epidemiologia , Estresse Psicológico/etiologia , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Maternal exposure to significant prenatal stress can negatively affect infant neurobiological development and increase the risk for developmental and health disturbances. These effects may be pronounced in low SES and ethnic minority families. We explored prenatal partner support as a buffer of the impact of prenatal stress on cortisol reactivity of infants born to low-income Mexican American women. Women (N=220; age 18-42; 84% Spanish-speaking; 89% foreign born; modal family income $10,000-$15,000) reported on economic stress and satisfaction with spousal/partner support during the prenatal period (26-38 weeks gestation), and infant salivary cortisol reactivity to mildly challenging mother-infant interaction tasks was assessed at women's homes at six weeks postpartum. Multilevel models estimated the interactive effect of prenatal stress and partner support on cortisol reactivity, controlling for covariates and potential confounds. Infants born to mothers who reported high prenatal stress and low partner support exhibited higher cortisol reactivity relative to those whose mothers reported high support or low stress. The effects did not appear to operate through birth outcomes. For low-income Mexican American women, partner support may buffer the impact of prenatal stress on infant cortisol reactivity, potentially promoting more adaptive infant health and development.