RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The present study examined whether immigration stress was related to decreased capacities for psychophysiological stress regulation (as indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) and whether lower RSA, in turn, was related to decreased maternal sensitivity. The buffering effect of familism values was also evaluated, such that familism values were expected to minimize associations between immigration stress, RSA, and sensitivity. METHOD: Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of Mexican immigrant mothers (N = 277; Mage = 28 years). Mothers self-reported immigration stress and familism values, and mothers' resting RSA and sensitivity were assessed during laboratory visits. RESULTS: Higher immigration stress was associated with higher RSA (B = .15, SE = .07, p = .04) but was unrelated to maternal sensitivity. Moreover, links between more immigration stress and higher RSA were more pronounced among mothers who reported stronger familism values (B = .20, SE = .07, p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: The present study contributes to our understanding of the sequelae of immigration stress in Mexican immigrant mothers and the cultural resiliency factors that may alter its effects. In contrast to hypotheses, findings suggested that mothers who endorse more immigration stress may also exhibit higher RSA, and links may be more pronounced among those with strong familism values. Further research is needed to advance understanding of resiliency processes that promote family functioning in vulnerable populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Assuntos
Emigrantes e Imigrantes , Americanos Mexicanos , Mães , Arritmia Sinusal Respiratória , Estresse Psicológico , Humanos , Feminino , Emigrantes e Imigrantes/psicologia , Adulto , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Estresse Psicológico/etnologia , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Mães/psicologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Arritmia Sinusal Respiratória/fisiologia , México/etnologia , Adulto Jovem , Relações Mãe-Filho/etnologia , Sistema Nervoso Parassimpático/fisiologiaRESUMO
Early oral language development lays an essential foundation for academic and socioemotional competencies but is vulnerable to the impact of family stress. Despite robust evidence that family stress affects early oral language development in monolingual samples, little is known about whether the family stress processes affecting language acquisition are similar among dual language learners. Furthermore, although Mexican American families often face stressors related to their ethnic minority and immigrant status, no studies to date have tested whether exposure to sociocultural stressors may likewise have negative consequences for early language acquisition. The present study examined whether financial and sociocultural stressors were associated with maternal stress perception, parenting sensitivity, and child Spanish and English receptive vocabulary at child age 3 and 4.5 years. Participants included 322 low-income Mexican American mothers and their children followed from pregnancy through 4.5 years postnatal; most mothers preferred to speak Spanish (82%). Results of a path model indicated that links between family stress and child receptive vocabulary varied by language (Spanish or English) and stress type (financial or cultural). Specifically, Spanish acquisition was more closely related to the quality of mother-child interactions, whereas English acquisition was more susceptible to the direct impact of family stress. The consequences of family stress on children's vocabulary acquisition were evident earlier in development for Spanish than English, and appeared more pronounced for financial versus sociocultural stressors. Findings underscore a need to attend to the impact of poverty on children's Spanish and English language development in low-income, Mexican American children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Assuntos
Americanos Mexicanos , Vocabulário , Pré-Escolar , Minorias Étnicas e Raciais , Etnicidade , Humanos , Grupos Minoritários , Relações Mãe-FilhoRESUMO
This study sought to (a) replicate infant temperament profiles from predominantly White samples in a sample of low-income, predominantly first-generation Mexican-American families, (b) investigate associations between infant temperament profiles and toddler behavioral and physiological regulation, and (c) explore whether mothers' cultural orientation would moderate those associations. Mothers and infants (n = 322; 46% male) were assessed during pregnancy and at infant ages 9, 12, and 24 months. Latent profile analysis yielded three temperament profiles that were consistent with those from extant research. Compared to the high positive affect, well-regulated profile, the negative reactive, low regulated profile was associated with poorer behavioral and parasympathetic (i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia) regulation, but associations depended on mothers' Mexican and Anglo cultural orientation.
Assuntos
Americanos Mexicanos , Temperamento , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Comportamento do Lactente , Masculino , Mães , Pobreza , GravidezRESUMO
Negativity in the family environment during the perinatal period is likely to have detrimental effects on maternal well-being, especially among low-income ethnic minority mothers who are at increased risk for experiencing postpartum depressive symptoms. With a sample of 322 Mexican and Mexican American families, this study used latent class growth analysis to identify meaningful subgroups of women based on their perceived family negativity reported prenatally and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks postpartum. A 4-trajectory model of family negativity fit the data well: low-stable (58%), moderate-increasing (26%), high-decreasing (8%), and high-increasing (8%). Higher prenatal depressive symptomatology predicted membership in the moderate-increasing, high-decreasing, and high-increasing trajectories, relative to the low-stable trajectory. Findings suggest substantial heterogeneity in family negativity, identifying three significant growth patterns during the perinatal period with differential implications for maternal depressive symptomatology at 24 weeks and 12 months after delivery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo/etnologia , Família/etnologia , Americanos Mexicanos/estatística & dados numéricos , Período Pós-Parto/etnologia , Pobreza/etnologia , Complicações na Gravidez/etnologia , Adulto , Depressão Pós-Parto/etnologia , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , México/etnologia , Gravidez , Estados Unidos/etnologiaRESUMO
The current study evaluated a mechanistic pathway by which prenatal stress increases the risk of postpartum depressive (PPD) symptoms via observed dyadic emotional, behavioral, and attentional dysregulation and associated cortisol responses during mother-infant interactions. METHODS: Participants included 322 low-income Mexican American mother-infant dyads. Depressive symptoms, economic hardship, and negative life events were assessed at a prenatal visit. Dysregulation in dyadic (mother-infant) interactions and cortisol responses to mother-infant interaction were evaluated at 12 weeks after the birth. Twenty-four weeks after the birth, PPD symptoms were predicted from prenatal stress (negative life events and economic hardship) and prenatal depressive symptoms, mediated through dyadic dysregulation and maternal and infant cortisol responses. RESULTS: More negative life events in the prenatal period predicted more dyadic dysregulation at 12 weeks postpartum. Dyadic dysregulation and economic hardship predicted elevated 12-week infant cortisol total response and reactivity, and higher total infant cortisol response predicted higher maternal PPD symptoms at 24 weeks. Maternal cortisol response was not associated with dyadic dysregulation, either form of prenatal stress, or PPD symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results indicate the salience of early psychosocial processes and mother-infant relationship challenges for subsequent maternal affective well-being.
Assuntos
Depressão Pós-Parto/psicologia , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Relações Mãe-Filho/psicologia , Mães/psicologia , Pobreza/psicologia , Adulto , Depressão/psicologia , Depressão Pós-Parto/etnologia , Feminino , Humanos , Hidrocortisona/metabolismo , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Acontecimentos que Mudam a Vida , Relações Mãe-Filho/etnologia , Período Pós-Parto/psicologia , Gravidez , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Clinically meaningful behavior problems are thought to be present beginning in the early toddler years, yet few studies have investigated correlates of behavior problems assessed before age 2 years. The current study investigated the direct and interactive contributions of early infant and caregiver characteristics thought to play an important role in the ontogeny of behavior problems. Specifically, the study examined: (a) the links between infant temperamental reactivity and toddler behavioral symptoms, (b) whether maternal sensitivity moderated associations between temperamental reactivity and behavioral symptoms, (c) whether variability in temperamental reactivity was explained by exposure to maternal stressful life events (SLEs) in utero, and (d) whether child sex moderated these pathways. Data were collected from 322 low-income, Mexican American families. Mother reports of SLEs were obtained between 23 and 40 weeks gestation; temperamental negativity and surgency at 6 weeks and 12 months; and internalizing and externalizing behaviors at 18 months. Maternal sensitivity during structured mother-infant interaction tasks at a 12-month visit was assessed by objective raters. Results indicated that significant paths linked maternal prenatal SLEs with 6-week negativity, 6-week negativity with 12-month negativity, and 12-month negativity with 18-month behavioral symptoms. Sex-specific effects were also observed. Maternal SLEs were directly associated with internalizing behaviors for girls only. Surgency and maternal sensitivity moderated the associations of negativity with subsequent externalizing behaviors for girls only. Results suggest that ecological stressors associated with sociodemographic risk factors such as low-income and ethnic minority status begin to exert cascades of influence on children's developmental outcomes even before birth. (PsycINFO Database Record
Assuntos
Emoções , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Pobreza , Comportamento Problema , Adolescente , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Comportamento Materno , Modelos Estatísticos , Relações Mãe-Filho , Fatores Sexuais , Temperamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: An increasing body of research has documented the significant influence of father involvement on children's development and overall well-being. However, extant research has predominately focused on middle-class Caucasian samples with little examination of fathering in ethnic minority and low-income families, particularly during the infancy period. The present study evaluated measures of early father involvement (paternal engagement, accessibility, and responsibility) that were adapted to capture important cultural values relevant to the paternal role in Mexican-origin families. METHODS: A sample of 180 Mexican-origin mothers (M age = 28.3) and 83 Mexican-origin fathers (M age = 31.5) were interviewed during the perinatal period. RESULTS: Descriptive analyses indicated that Mexican-origin fathers are involved in meaningful levels of direct interaction with their infant. A 2-factor model of paternal responsibility was supported by factor analyses, consisting of a behavioral responsibility factor aligned with previous literature and culturally derived positive machismo factor. Qualities of the romantic relationship, cultural orientation, and maternal employment status were related to indices of father involvement. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results contribute to understanding of the transition to fatherhood among low-income Mexican-origin men and bring attention to the demographic, social, and cultural contexts in which varying levels of father involvement may emerge.
Assuntos
Desenvolvimento Infantil , Relações Pai-Filho/etnologia , Pai/psicologia , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Relações Mãe-Filho/etnologia , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Low-income Mexican American women experience significant health disparities during the postpartum period. Contextual stressors, such as economic stress, are theorized to affect health via dysregulated cortisol output. However, cultural protective factors including strong family support may buffer the impact of stress. In a sample of 322 low-income Mexican American women (mother age 18-42; 82% Spanish-speaking; modal family income $10,000-$15,000), we examined the interactive influence of economic stress and family support at 6 weeks postpartum on maternal cortisol output (AUCg) during a mildly challenging mother-infant interaction task at 12 weeks postpartum, controlling for 6-week maternal cortisol and depressive symptoms. The interaction significantly predicted cortisol output such that higher economic stress predicted higher cortisol only among women reporting low family support. These results suggest that family support is an important protective resource for postpartum Mexican American women experiencing elevated economic stress.
Assuntos
Família/psicologia , Hidrocortisona/metabolismo , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Período Pós-Parto/psicologia , Estresse Psicológico/metabolismo , Adulto , Economia , Feminino , Humanos , Relações Mãe-Filho/psicologia , Distribuição Aleatória , Saliva/metabolismo , Apoio Social , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Prenatal psychosocial exposures can significantly affect infant health and development. Infants with higher temperamental negativity are theorized to be more susceptible to environmental exposures. We evaluated the interaction of prenatal maternal exposures and infant temperamental negativity to predict infant cortisol response to mildly challenging mother-infant interaction tasks. Participants included 322 Mexican American mother-infant dyads (mother age 18-42; 82% Spanish-speaking; modal family income $10,000-$15,000). Mothers reported depressive symptoms and social support prenatally and infant temperamental negativity at 6 weeks postpartum. Salivary cortisol was collected from infants before and after mother-infant interaction tasks at 12 weeks. Higher prenatal maternal depressive symptoms and lower social support predicted higher cortisol among infants with higher temperamental negativity. Higher infant temperamental negativity predicted an increase in maternal distress and a decrease in social support from prenatal to 12 weeks postpartum. Interactive influences of maternal social-contextual factors and infant temperament may influence the development of infant neurobiological regulation and promote or strain maternal and infant adaptation over time.
Assuntos
Depressão/fisiopatologia , Hidrocortisona/análise , Americanos Mexicanos , Pobreza/psicologia , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/fisiopatologia , Apoio Social , Temperamento/fisiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Relações Mãe-Filho , Mães/psicologia , Período Pós-Parto , Gravidez , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/psicologia , Saliva/química , Estresse Psicológico/fisiopatologia , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Although research examining intimate partner violence (IPV) has expanded in recent years, there has been relatively little examination of the related demographic and psychosocial factors, as well as mental health outcomes, for IPV before and during pregnancy, especially in a Mexican American population. The current study provides a snapshot of the occurrence of IPV in a community sample of low-income, perinatal Mexican American women (n = 320). Results indicated that 13.1% of the women reported IPV before pregnancy and 11.3% reported IPV during pregnancy. For both IPV before and during pregnancy, women born in the United States were more likely to report IPV than foreign-born women. For IPV before pregnancy, women who were not in a serious romantic relationship or reported a history of childhood trauma were also more likely to report IPV. For IPV during pregnancy, women who reported higher general stress and lower social support were also more likely to report IPV. Finally, the current study provided strong evidence that a history of IPV predicted elevated postpartum depressive symptoms, above and beyond the impact of prenatal depressive symptoms. This study brings greater awareness to a complex and harmful situation in an understudied population. Results are discussed in terms of the relation between demographic and psychosocial risk for IPV before and during pregnancy, acculturation, and postpartum depressive symptoms, as well as the implications for the development of future prevention and intervention programs.
Assuntos
Depressão Pós-Parto/epidemiologia , Relações Interpessoais , Violência/psicologia , Violência/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Depressão Pós-Parto/etnologia , Feminino , Humanos , Americanos Mexicanos/etnologia , Gravidez , Prevalência , Psicologia , Fatores de Risco , Delitos Sexuais/etnologia , Delitos Sexuais/psicologia , Delitos Sexuais/estatística & dados numéricos , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Violência/etnologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The early postpartum period lays important groundwork for later self-regulation as infants' dispositional traits interact with caregivers' co-regulatory behaviors to produce the earliest forms of self-regulation. Although emerging literature suggests that fetal exposure to maternal stress may be integral in determining child self-regulatory capacity, the complex pathways that characterize these early developmental processes remain unclear. The current study considers these complex, transactional processes in a low income, Mexican American sample. Data were collected from 295 Mexican American infants and their mothers during prenatal, 6- and 12-week postpartum home interviews. Mother reports of stress were obtained prenatally, and mother reports of infant temperament were obtained at 6 weeks. Observer ratings of maternal sensitivity and infant regulatory behaviors were obtained at the 6- and 12-week time points. Study results indicate that prenatal stress predicts higher levels of infant negativity and surgency, both of which directly or interactively predict later engagement in regulatory behaviors. Unexpectedly, prenatal stress also predicted more engagement in orienting, but not self-comforting behaviors. Advancing understandings about the nature of these developmental pathways may have significant implications for targets of early intervention in this high risk population.
Assuntos
Mães/psicologia , Gravidez/psicologia , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal/psicologia , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Desenvolvimento Infantil , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Comportamento do Lactente/psicologia , Recém-Nascido , Estudos Longitudinais , Americanos Mexicanos , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Temperamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although maternal postpartum depression (PPD) is a well-documented phenomenon that has been the focus of a large body of literature, much less is known about the prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among fathers following the birth of a child. Particularly scarce is research with Mexican American men, an understudied population at high risk given limited socioeconomic resources and elevated rates of maternal PPD. METHODS: The current study used descriptive and path analyses to examine the prevalence and predictors of PPD in 92 Mexican American fathers (M age=31.3 years). RESULTS: At both 15 and 21 postpartum week assessments, 9% of fathers met criteria for PPD. Path analyses suggested that unemployment status, fewer biological children, poor marital relationship quality, and lower orientation to Anglo culture predicted higher 15 week paternal PPD symptoms, which was associated with greater paternal depressive symptoms at 21 weeks. Predictive paths from symptoms of maternal to paternal PPD were not significant. LIMITATIONS: Lack of generalizability to other ethnic groups, sampling of primarily resident fathers, and the absence of historical assessments of depression are limitations of the current study. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the importance of PPD screenings among Mexican American fathers and suggest certain demographic, familial, and cultural factors may render men particularly vulnerable for maladjustment during the early infancy period.
Assuntos
Depressão/etiologia , Pai/psicologia , Americanos Mexicanos/psicologia , Adulto , Cultura , Família/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Período Pós-Parto/psicologia , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Fatores de Risco , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
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.