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Associations Between Maternal Caregiving and Child Indicators of Toxic Stress Among Multiethnic, Urban Families.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:Our purpose was to examine associations between maternal caregiving and child indicators of toxic stress among multiethnic, urban families with children of early school age. METHOD:We conducted an exploratory cross-sectional analysis of 54 maternal-child dyads. Mothers reported on parenting behaviors and parental reflective functioning (PRF). Child indicators of toxic stress included hair/salivary biomarkers, anthropometric characteristics, and maternally reported health and behavior. RESULTS:Hostile/coercive parenting behaviors were associated with child externalizing behavioral problems (r?=?0.43, p?=?.001, but lower interleukin (IL) 6 levels (r?=?0.31, p?=?.03). High PRF was associated with fewer child emergency department visits (??=?-0.43, p?=?.009), whereas impaired PRF was associated with more behavioral problems (??=?0.52, p < .0001). DISCUSSION:PRF and supportive parenting behaviors may protect against toxic stress among vulnerable families, but additional research is needed to better understand these relationships. Resources are available to help clinicians screen for family risk factors and model responsive caregiving in pediatric settings.

SUBMITTER: Condon EM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6589109 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul - Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Associations Between Maternal Caregiving and Child Indicators of Toxic Stress Among Multiethnic, Urban Families.

Condon Eileen M EM Holland Margaret L ML Slade Arietta A Redeker Nancy S NS Mayes Linda C LC Sadler Lois S LS

Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners 20190123 4

<h4>Introduction</h4>Our purpose was to examine associations between maternal caregiving and child indicators of toxic stress among multiethnic, urban families with children of early school age.<h4>Method</h4>We conducted an exploratory cross-sectional analysis of 54 maternal-child dyads. Mothers reported on parenting behaviors and parental reflective functioning (PRF). Child indicators of toxic stress included hair/salivary biomarkers, anthropometric characteristics, and maternally reported hea ...[more]

PMID: 30683581

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Project description:BackgroundChild maltreatment is a common negative experience and has potential long-lasting adverse consequences for mental and physical health, including increased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) and metabolic syndrome. In addition, child maltreatment may increase the risk for comorbid physical health conditions to psychiatric conditions, with inflammation as an important mediator linking child maltreatment to poor adult health. However, it remains unresolved whether experiencing child maltreatment increases the risk for the development of comorbid metabolic syndrome to MDD. Therefore, we investigated whether child maltreatment increased the risk for comorbid metabolic syndrome to depressed mood. Subsequently, we examined whether C-reactive protein (CRP), as an inflammatory marker, mediated this association. In addition, we investigated whether effects differed between men and women.MethodsAssociations were examined within cross-sectional data from the multiethnic HELIUS study (N = 21,617). Adult residents of Amsterdam, Netherlands, self-reported on child maltreatment (distinct and total number of types experienced before the age of 16 years) as well as current depressed mood (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10), and underwent physical examination to assess metabolic syndrome. The CRP levels were assessed in N = 5,998 participants. Logistic and linear regressions were applied for binary and continuous outcomes, respectively. All analyses were adjusted for relevant demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle characteristics, including ethnicity.ResultsA higher number of maltreatment types as well as distinct types of emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse were significantly associated with a higher risk for current depressed mood. Child maltreatment was not significantly associated with the risk for metabolic syndrome in the whole cohort, nor within individuals with depressed mood. As child maltreatment was not significantly associated with the CRP levels, subsequent mediation analyses were not performed. No significant moderating effects by sex were observed.ConclusionIn this multiethnic urban cohort, child maltreatment was associated with a higher risk for depressed mood. Contrary to our expectations, child maltreatment was not significantly associated with an increased risk for metabolic syndrome, neither in the whole cohort nor as a comorbid condition in individuals with depressed mood. As the data were cross-sectional and came from a non-clinical adult population, longitudinal perspectives in relation to various stages of the investigated conditions were needed with more comprehensive assessments of inflammatory markers.

Project description:BackgroundYoung children require high-quality care for healthy growth and development. We defined "maternal capabilities" as factors that influence mothers' caregiving ability (physical and mental health, social support, time, decision-making autonomy, gender norm attitudes, and mothering self-efficacy), and developed survey tools to assess them.ObjectivesWe hypothesized that mothers with stronger capabilities during pregnancy would be more likely to practice improved care behaviors after their child was born.MethodsWe assessed maternal capabilities among 4667 pregnant women newly enrolled in the Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial. Several improved child-care practices were promoted until 18 mo postpartum, the trial endpoint. Care practices were assessed by survey, direct observation, or transcription from health records during postpartum research visits. We used logistic regression to determine the predictive association between maternal capabilities during pregnancy and child-care practices.ResultsMothers with more egalitarian gender norm attitudes were more likely to have an institutional delivery [adjusted OR (AOR), 2.06; 95% CI, 1.57-2.69], initiate breastfeeding within 1 h of delivery (AOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.03-1.84), exclusively breastfeed (EBF) from birth to 3 mo (AOR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.95-3.35) and 3-6 mo (AOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.36-2.25), and, among households randomized to receive extra modules on sanitation and hygiene, have soap and water at a handwashing station (AOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.29-2.39). Mothers experiencing time stress were less likely to EBF from birth to 3 mo (AOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66-0.93). Greater social support was associated with institutional delivery (AOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.37-1.98) and, among mothers randomized to receive extra complementary feeding modules, feeding children a minimally diverse diet (AOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.37). Depressed mothers were 37% and 33%, respectively, less likely to have an institutional delivery (AOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.88) and a fully immunized child (AOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50-0.90).ConclusionsInterventions to reduce maternal depression, time stress, inadequate social support, and inequitable gender norms may improve maternal child caregiving.

Project description:BackgroundLoyola Medical Center is located in Maywood, IL, a community that faces high rates of poverty, violence, and barriers to healthcare. These factors can contribute to toxic stress, which has been shown to negatively impact children's health.ObjectivesThe goal of this project was to partner with community organizations to obtain a baseline needs assessment from families in Maywood regarding sources of toxic stress and to identify interventions of interest.MethodsIn total, 75 anonymous surveys were collected from the Loyola Outpatient Center Pediatric Clinic and a Maywood community center. Survey responses were statistically analyzed in order to determine toxic stressors most commonly impacting families in Maywood as well as interventions of most interest to the community.ResultsThere were 78 respondents for a response rate of approximately 71%. The most common stressors were smoking in the home (33.3%), food insecurity (29.5%), and exposure to violence (26.9%). In this sample, Black respondents were 11.5 times more likely than non-Black respondents to report that their child was exposed to violence in the community - even after controlling for concern about their child's behavior which served as a surrogate measure of the child's exposure to toxic stress (P = 0.001). Further, those living with food insecurity were 7.40 times more likely to report that access to food and transportation vouchers were important (P < .001). For every 1-point increase in the total toxic stress score, respondents were 1.35 times more likely to report that increasing access to mental health resources was important to them, though this was not significant (P = .10).ConclusionThe data demonstrate that toxic stressors, health risks and unmet social needs are prevalent in the Maywood community, which puts local children at risk for future adverse health outcomes. With this information, pediatricians at Loyola Medical Center can work with community organizations to allocate resources to address toxic stressors in Maywood.

Dataset Information

Associations Between Maternal Caregiving and Child Indicators of Toxic Stress Among Multiethnic, Urban Families.

Publications

Associations Between Maternal Caregiving and Child Indicators of Toxic Stress Among Multiethnic, Urban Families.

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