Cumulative adversity, mindfulness, and mental health in first-time mothers experiencing low income.
Luciano Garofalo, Cathryn Booth-LaForce, Paula Nurius, Stephanie Thompson, Becca Calhoun, Lisa Shimomaeda, Liliana J. Lengua
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports December 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100621 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 202 |
| Population | Predominantly non-white primiparous females with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Childhood adversity Poverty Prenatal mental health |
| Key findings | Higher adverse childhood experiences and negative life events independently predicted worse prenatal mental health after controlling for socioeconomic factors, and cumulative socioeconomic risk interacted with childhood adversity to predict higher prenatal anxiety and depression scores. Higher mindfulness predicted lower anxiety and depression regardless of adversity, but was negatively correlated with childhood adversity; the authors argue mindfulness may support resilience but is not a solution to the mental health harms of social and economic marginalization. |
Abstract
Socioeconomic adversity can negatively impact the mental and physical health of mothers and their offspring. This paper extends understanding of the interrelationship of these factors during the perinatal time frame, specifically to: 1.) evaluate the impact of adverse childhood events (ACES), negative life events (NLEs), and socioeconomic factors on the mental health of low-income expecting mothers; 2) evaluate for differences by race/ethnicity in adversity predicting perinatal mental health; 3) examine how mindfulness interacts with socioeconomic adversity in predicting prenatal mental health. 202 predominately non-white primiparous females with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level participated. Measures included ACEs, NLEs, and several descriptors of socioeconomic status. Resilience and mindfulness were measured as possible protective factors. In the sequence of socioeconomic factors, ACEs, and NLEs, hierarchical multiple regression tested these measures as predictors of prenatal depression and anxiety, also evaluating for interaction effects. Controlling for socioeconomic factors, higher ACEs and NLEs independently predicted worse prenatal mental health. Cumulative socioeconomic risk interacted with ACEs to predict higher prenatal anxiety and more accurately predict prenatal depression scores. Higher mindfulness predicted lower anxiety and depression regardless of adversity, but was also significantly negatively correlated with ACEs. Generalizability of results are limited by the sample size and specific geographic region. Conclusion: Socioeconomic and psychosocial adversity cumulatively impact prenatal mental health. Mindfulness may be a valuable target for resilience-enhancing interventions prepartum but is not a solution to the clear detriments that social and economic marginalization have on mental health.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Considerations for Research and Development of Culturally Relevant Mindfulness Interventions in American Minority Communities. Mindfulness August 16, 2017
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Maternal Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes: a Systematic Review. Mindfulness 2017
- Psychometric properties of the five facet mindfulness questionnaire in depressed adults and development of a short form. Assessment May 17, 2011