Socio-cultural predictors of depressive symptoms in pregnant Mexican-American women

As more pregnant Mexican-Americans integrate into US culture, they are vulnerable to a unique stressor termed acculturation. Acculturation and the stresses associated with this process have detrimental effects on maternal health. Social support and Mexican cultural values can buffer against the effects of acculturation and may alleviate prenatal mental health symptoms. The current study explores the relationship between cultural stressors and protective support on maternal physiological and psychological outcomes (cortisol levels and depression) during pregnancy. In an ongoing study, 37 participants in their first trimester completed questionnaires on acculturative stress, cultural values, depressive symptoms and social support. Salivary cortisol was collected 4 times/day to determine diurnal decline. Preliminary analysis revealed a positive relationship between acculturative stress and depression (p <0.001), but neither was related to social support. Less identification with the Mexican value of family support was associated with altered cortisol decline (p=0.03), but no relationship was observed between cortisol and depression or acculturative stress. In addition, satisfaction with received social support was negatively correlated with the endorsement of gender roles (p=0.04), a Mexican cultural value, and material success (p =0.02), an Anglo value. Thus, acculturative stress is a likely risk factor for depressive symptoms in pregnant Mexican-American women. However, identification with traditional Mexican cultural values may facilitate satisfaction with social support as well as be protective against the physiological changes associated with stress. This work suggests the integration of traditional cultural values into culturally competent prenatal care for Mexican-American women may have beneficial effects on maternal health.