The consequences of postpartum depression (PPD) extend far beyond the mother's mental health, and can have severe detrimental effects on marital relationships, parenting abilities, mother-infant bonding, and infant health and development. Although Latinos are the fastest growing population group in the US, few studies of PPD have been conducted with Latina women. Existing studies suggest a significantly elevated vulnerability to PPD for low income ethnic minority women. However, the trajectories of onset and recovery have not been well- described, and little is known about the influence of cultural-ecological risk and protective factors. Further, most research has failed to consider the fundamental role of the newborn baby and the ability of mother-infant interactions to influence the onset and course of PPD. This study will evaluate a community sample of 330 low-income Mexican American first- time mothers from the prenatal period through the first postpartum year. The development of PPD and the process of recovery will be examined using well-validated symptom and clinically diagnostic measures. Culturally-ecological factors will be examined that may either confer risk or offer protection from PPD. Repeated home observations of mother-infant interactions will be collected in the critical first 6 months following childbirth. The bio-psychosocial process by which mothers and infants co-regulate each other's emotions, behavior, and physiology will be analyzed and used to predict the longitudinal course of PPD over the first year. Findings will significantly enhance understanding of the impact of culturally-relevant risk and protective factors on the onset and course of PPD in a highly vulnerable population, and will identify innovative targets (e.g., mother-infant interactions) for future interventions.

Public Health Relevance

Postpartum mood disorders, primarily depression, affect a large number of new mothers. Estimates range from 10-15 percent in general population samples. However, striking health disparities are evident in studies evaluating low-income and/or ethnic minority mothers, for whom prevalence rates from 24-49 percent have been reported. A large research literature documents the substantial detrimental public health impact of postpartum depression, not just for women, but for their partners and children as well. According to the World Health Organization (2007), depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and the fourth leading contributor to worldwide burden of disease. Infants and children of mothers who are depressed, especially those experiencing social disadvantage, face considerable short and long-term disadvantage, including lower birth weight, poorer cognitive development, higher rates of behavioral and social problems, and more frequent emotional problems. In Arizona, the largest percentages of new births are to Hispanic women, of whom the majority is classified as low-income. Population birth trends in Arizona (and the US as a whole), the magnitude of the public health impact of postpartum mood disorders, and the significant mental health disparities new Hispanic mothers experience argue for the critical need for further understanding of processes affecting the development of postpartum mood disorders in low-income Mexican American women.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH083173-04
Application #
8212280
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-K (02))
Program Officer
Muehrer, Peter R
Project Start
2009-02-20
Project End
2013-12-31
Budget Start
2012-01-01
Budget End
2012-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$1,123,861
Indirect Cost
$367,396
Name
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
943360412
City
Tempe
State
AZ
Country
United States
Zip Code
85287
Coburn, S S; Luecken, L J; Rystad, I A et al. (2018) Prenatal Maternal Depressive Symptoms Predict Early Infant Health Concerns. Matern Child Health J 22:786-793
Jewell, Shannon L; Suk, Hye Won; Luecken, Linda J (2018) Respiratory sinus arrhythmia: Modeling longitudinal change from 6 weeks to 2 years of age among low-income Mexican Americans. Dev Psychobiol 60:232-238
Luecken, Linda J; Crnic, Keith A; Gonzales, Nancy A et al. (2018) Mother-infant dyadic dysregulation and postpartum depressive symptoms in low-income Mexican-origin women. Biol Psychol :
Lin, Betty; Crnic, Keith A; Luecken, Linda J et al. (2017) Ontogeny of emotional and behavioral problems in a low-income, Mexican American sample. Dev Psychol 53:2245-2260
Jewell, Shannon L; Letham-Hamlett, Kirsten; Hanna Ibrahim, Mariam et al. (2017) Family Support and Family Negativity as Mediators of the Relation between Acculturation and Postpartum Weight in Low-Income Mexican-Origin Women. Ann Behav Med 51:856-867
Luecken, Linda J; Jewell, Shannon L; MacKinnon, David P (2017) Maternal acculturation and the growth of impoverished Mexican American infants. Obesity (Silver Spring) 25:445-451
Coburn, Shayna S; Gonzales, N A; Luecken, L J et al. (2016) Multiple domains of stress predict postpartum depressive symptoms in low-income Mexican American women: the moderating effect of social support. Arch Womens Ment Health 19:1009-1018
Luecken, Linda J; Jewell, Shannon L; MacKinnon, David P (2016) Prediction of Postpartum Weight in Low-Income Mexican-Origin Women From Childhood Experiences of Abuse and Family Conflict. Psychosom Med 78:1104-1113
Roubinov, Danielle S; Luecken, Linda J; Gonzales, Nancy A et al. (2016) Father involvement in Mexican-origin families: Preliminary development of a culturally informed measure. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 22:277-87
Luecken, Linda J; MacKinnon, David P; Jewell, Shannon L et al. (2015) Effects of prenatal factors and temperament on infant cortisol regulation in low-income Mexican American families. Dev Psychobiol 57:961-73

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