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. 2022 Oct;46(4):277-284.
doi: 10.1037/rmh0000212. Epub 2022 Jul 14.

The Social Determinants of Perinatal Maternal Distress

Sharon L Ruyak  1 , Blake Boursaw  2 , Lisa Cacari Stone  3
Affiliations

The Social Determinants of Perinatal Maternal Distress

Sharon L Ruyak et al. Rural Ment Health. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

This pilot study examined associations between prenatal individual and socioenvironmental determinants of health and symptoms of perinatal maternal distress (PMD) in women enrolled in midwifery practice and living in a rural state. Pearson's correlations between prenatal predictors and PMD scores were calculated. Having experienced emotional abuse in one's lifetime, total number of past year stressors, and everyday discrimination score were all statistically significant predictors of PMD at study enrollment and follow-up. Result suggest shifting to a multi-symptom, life course assessment and intervention paradigm, tailored to the context of specific populations, may improve perinatal care and reduce disparities.

Keywords: discrimination; perinatal mental health; social determinants of health; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Path Model EDS, Stressors, Maternal Distress in the Third Trimester, and Postpartum Maternal Distress
* p < .05, ** p < .001, EDS = Everyday Discrimination Scale, Stressors = Past year stressors (count)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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