Abstract
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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3092-3101 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2013 |
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Keywords
- Infant cortisol
- Partner support
- Prenatal stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Cite this
Prenatal stress, partner support, and infant cortisol reactivity in low-income Mexican American families. / Luecken, Linda; Lin, Betty; Coburn, Shayna S.; Mackinnon, David; Gonzales, Nancy; Crnic, Keith.
In: Psychoneuroendocrinology, Vol. 38, No. 12, 12.2013, p. 3092-3101.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prenatal stress, partner support, and infant cortisol reactivity in low-income Mexican American families
AU - Luecken, Linda
AU - Lin, Betty
AU - Coburn, Shayna S.
AU - Mackinnon, David
AU - Gonzales, Nancy
AU - Crnic, Keith
PY - 2013/12
Y1 - 2013/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Infant cortisol
KW - Partner support
KW - Prenatal stress
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84888286414&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.09.006
DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.09.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 24090585
AN - SCOPUS:84888286414
VL - 38
SP - 3092
EP - 3101
JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology
JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology
SN - 0306-4530
IS - 12
ER -