title: Acculturation, maternal cortisol, and birth outcomes in women of Mexican descent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of acculturation on cortisol, a biological correlate of maternal psychological distress, and perinatal infant outcomes, specifically gestational age at birth and birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five pregnant women of Mexican descent were recruited from a community hospital, and their saliva samples were collected at home for 3 days during pregnancy at 15 to 18 weeks (early), 26 to 32 weeks (mid), and more than 32 weeks (late) of gestation and once in the postpartum period (4-12 weeks). These values were used to determine the diurnal cortisol slope at each phase of pregnancy. Mothers also completed an acculturation survey and gave permission for a medical chart review to obtain neonate information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple regression analyses determined that greater acculturation levels significantly predicted earlier infant gestational age at birth (R(2) = 0.09, p = .03). Results from t tests revealed that mothers of low-birth-weight infants (<2500 g) had significantly higher acculturation scores than mothers of infants with birth weight greater than 2500 g (t = -2.95, p = .005). A blunted maternal cortisol slope during pregnancy was also correlated with low birth weight (r = -0.29, p = .05) but not gestational age (r = -0.08, p = .59). In addition, more acculturated women had a flatter diurnal cortisol slope late in pregnancy (R(2) = 0.21, p = .01). Finally, diurnal maternal cortisol rhythms were identified as a potential mediator between increased acculturation and birth weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study associated increased acculturation with perinatal outcomes in the US Mexican population. This relationship may be mediated by prenatal maternal diurnal cortisol, which can program the health of the fetus leading to several adverse perinatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. kimberly.danna@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: D'Anna-Hernandez
authors.forename: Maria Camille
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Gary O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Zerbe
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coussons-Read
authors.forename: Randal G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Laudenslager
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone