Changes in Sociocultural Factors and Mental Health in U.S. Mothers of Mexican Descent Amidst the Changing Sociopolitical Climate

• In Event: New Directions for Developmental and Prevention Science for Improving the Lives of Latinx Families

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, people of Mexican descent face heightened stereotypes, bigotry, and fears resulting from increasingly racist language and anti-immigrant sentiments in politics and the media following the announcement of Trump’s candidacy in 2016. The perception or threat of major policy changes alone can harm mental health in targeted populations. This phenomenon may be particularly detrimental for Mexican-American mothers as even before the current policy changes, pregnant Mexican women in the US reported 2-3 times the rates of depression and anxiety compared to other women. In addition, stress during the perinatal period is associated with disruptions to the maternal/child bond and adverse developmental outcomes. However, little work to date has addressed if sociocultural stressors, mental health or birth outcomes have changed in response to current sociopolitical trends.
Hypotheses: It is hypothesized that the following factors would change following Trump’s selection as the Republican candidate: 1) birth outcomes would deteriorate, 2) sociocultural stressors would increase, 3) protective factors would decrease, and 4) mental health would decline. Lastly, 5) we predicted that sociocultural stressors would be differently associated with mental health before and after candidacy.
Study population: First, a longitudinal analysis was conducted in the same mothers of Mexican descent before and after Trump’s candidacy (n=58; 2013-2020). Second, in order to control for time in the US and stage of motherhood, a cross-sectional analysis of larger group of newly postpartum mothers before (n= 105) and after candidacy (n=128) was performed.
Methods: Mothers of Mexican descent with children aged 6 weeks- 6 years old were recruited as part of a larger longitudinal study. Mothers were given self-report surveys on perceived stress (PSS), anxiety (STAI) and depressive symptoms (DSS) and sociocultural factors such as acculturation (ARSMA, Mexican and Anglo Orientation subscales), acculturative stress (SAFE) and discrimination (DSS) as well as cultural protective factors (MACVS) and birth outcomes (gestational age, birthweight).
Results: There was not a difference in gestational age or birthweight before vs. after Trump’s candidacy. In the longitudinal analysis, perceived discrimination and acculturative stress both increased significantly post-candidacy. Levels of depression remained similar, but anxiety and perceived stress significantly increased (t(56)= 2.01, CI: 0.01, 5.92; t(55)= 4.080, CI: 2.27, 6.64, respectively). In addition, overall adherence to Mexican cultural values decreased post-candidacy, including gender roles and familism (all ps<0.04). In the larger cross-sectional analyses, neither mental health nor sociocultural stressors changed. However, Mexican values reduced post-candidacy (t(231)=-2.83, CI: -0.33, -0.06). In the regressions, after controlling for years in the US and maternal age, Mexican Orientation was not significantly associated with any mental health measures pre-candidacy, but associated significantly with less anxiety and depressive symptoms and perceived stress post-candidacy.
Conclusions: Sociopolitical stressors surrounding the 2016 presidential election may be associated with decreased maternal mental health and reduced protective factors. However, Mexican Orientation seems to be a protective factor post-candidacy. Targeted interventions to increase or maintain protective cultural factors could offset declines in mental health amongst mothers of Mexican descent and their children.

Authors

• Kimberly D’Anna-Hernandez, California State University San Marcos
  Presenting Author

• Elizabeth Clausing, University of California, San Diego
  Non-Presenting Author

• Amy Non, University of California, San Diego
  Non-Presenting Author