A5017719501- Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Treatments
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy
- Cardiovascular Function and Risk Factors
- Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
- Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
- Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
University of Iowa
2013-2021
University of Illinois Chicago
1989-2015
Illinois College
1989-2014
University of Illinois Chicago, Rockford campus
2014
Prenatal stress can affect lifelong physical growth, including increased obesity risk. However, human studies remain limited. Natural disasters provide models of independent stressors unrelated to confounding maternal characteristics. We assessed degree objective hardship and subjective distress in women pregnant during severe flooding. At ages 2.5 4 years we body mass index (BMI), subscapular plus triceps skinfolds (SS + TR, an total adiposity), SS : TR ratio (an central adiposity) their...
A systematic investigation of the role prenatal partner support in perinatal maternal depression was conducted. Separate facets were examined (i.e., received and adequacy) a multidimensional model applied to investigate effects distinct types informational, physical comfort, emotional/esteem, tangible support). Both main stress-buffering models tested context stress resulting from exposure natural disaster. Questionnaire data analyzed 145 partnered women using growth curve analytic...
Assessing postpartum depressive symptoms is complicated by the fact that irritability, fatigue, insomnia, and appetite disruptions are also related to normative aspects of childbearing process. We used multigroup confirmatory factor analysis compare in 271 women with those 820 non-postpartum women. found (a) loss were substantially associated depressed mood among whereas increased was not; (b) changes as strongly depression they women; (c) after controlling for overall mood, reported more...
Abstract Disaster exposure during pregnancy has received limited attention. This study examined the impact of 2008 Iowa Floods on perinatal maternal depression and well‐being, role peritraumatic distress as a possible mechanism explaining this link. Perinatal women ( N = 171) completed measures depressive symptoms general well‐being at 5 timepoints from to 30 months postpartum. Objectively assessed prenatal flood was associated with greater r .15). Further, flood‐related uniquely .23), key...
Mothers facing stressors or lacking adequate support often find parenting more challenging and less enjoyable. This study examined the mechanisms through which contextual variables might influence perceptions of parenting. Participants were 153 mothers toddlers who completed interviews questionnaires on life adversity, social support, negative affect, stress. Life adversity was positively associated with stress this association mediated affect. Emotional moderated between appeared to promote...
The perinatal period is a vulnerable time for the development of psychopathology, particularly mood and anxiety disorders. In study maternal anxiety, important questions remain regarding association between symptoms subsequent child outcomes. This examined depressive symptoms, namely social panic, agoraphobia disorder during perception behavior, specifically different facets temperament. Participants (N = 104) were recruited pregnancy from community sample. completed clinician-administered...