Biopsychosocial correlates of psychological distress in Latina mothers

Hudson P Santos Jr; Harry Adynski; Rebeca Harris; Arjun Bhattacharya; Angela C Incollingo Rodriguez; Ryan Cali; Alessandra Torres Yabar; Benjamin C Nephew; Christopher Murgatroyd

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.193

Biopsychosocial correlates of psychological distress in Latina mothers

J Affect Disord. 2021 Mar 1:282:617-626. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.193. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Authors

Hudson P Santos Jr¹, Harry Adynski², Rebeca Harris², Arjun Bhattacharya³, Angela C Incollingo Rodriguez⁴, Ryan Cali⁵, Alessandra Torres Yabar⁶, Benjamin C Nephew⁷, Christopher Murgatroyd⁸

Affiliations

¹ Biobehavioral Laboratory, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, United States. Electronic address: hsantos@unc.edu.
² Biobehavioral Laboratory, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
³ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Psychological & Cognitive Sciences, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, United States.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, United States.
⁶ Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, United States.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, United States; Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, United States.
⁸ School of Healthcare Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have explored the relationship between psychological, psychosocial and biological factors among Latinas. An integrated understanding of how these factors associate with psychological distress is necessary for the development of culturally relevant screening tools and interventions. The study aim was to examine the relationships among (a) psychological distress symptoms, (b) psychosocial factors (discrimination, acculturation, acculturative stress, economic hardship), and (c) biological (DNA methylation of stress-related genes) factors among Latinas during pregnancy and postpartum period.

Methods: A sample of 150 pregnant Latinas completed the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms II (IDAS-II), psychosocial questionnaires (discrimination, acculturation, acculturative stress, economic hardship) before (24-32 weeks) and after gestation (4-6 weeks postpartum). Blood samples were collected between 24-32 weeks gestation. Correlations were determined between psychosocial and biological measures and psychological distress measures. Multivariable linear regression models were conducted to assess the relationships between IDAS and stressors.

Results: Several correlations among psychosocial measures,DNA methylation factors and IDAS-II variables were identified. Among the psychosocial measures, everyday discrimination was the most strongly and consistently associated with IDAS-II. DNA methylation of NR3C1 affects the associations between psychological and psychosocial distress.

Limitations: We only assessed DNA methylation during pregnancy and focused on four HPA-related genes. Longitudinal assessment of DNA methylation and genome-wide analysis can provide a better picture of the role of methylation in psychological distress.

Conclusions: This work may assist clinicians and policy makers in effectively recognizing and preventing maternal mental health disparities based on discrimination and other psychosocial stressors in at-risk groups.

Keywords: Biomarkers; DNA methylation; Latinas; Postpartum; Prenatal; Psychological distress.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Depression
Female
Hispanic or Latino
Humans
Mothers*
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Psychological Distress*
Stress, Psychological

Grants and funding

UL1 TR002489/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States