title: Acculturation, depressive symptoms, estriol, progesterone, and preterm birth in Hispanic women.
abstract: We examined the effects of acculturation, depressive symptoms, progesterone, and estriol (E3) as predictors of preterm birth (PTB) in pregnant Hispanic women. This cross-sectional study recruited a sample of 470 Hispanic women between 22- and 24-week gestation from physician practices and community clinics. We used the CES-D to measure maternal depressive symptoms. We measured acculturation by English proficiency on the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale, residence index by years in the USA minus age, nativity, and generational status. Serum progesterone and E3 were analyzed by EIA. Ultrasound and medical records determined gestational age after delivery. In χ                         (2) analysis, there were a significantly greater percentage of women with higher depressive scores if they were born in the USA. In a structural equation model (SEM), acculturation (English proficiency, residence index, and generational status) predicted the estriol/progesterone ratio (E/P), and the interaction of depressive symptoms with the E/P ratio predicted PTB. Undiagnosed depressive symptoms during pregnancy may have biological consequences increasing the risk for PTB.
authors.affiliation: The School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78701-1499, USA. jruiz@austin.utexas.edu
authors.forename: R Jeanne
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: C Nathan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pickler
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murphey
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wommack
authors.forename: Charles E L
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004964:Estriol