Psychosocial Stressors Association with Preterm Birth among a Diverse Sample of the Hispanic/Latina Women of Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)
Research Poster Social & Behavioral Sciences 2025 Graduate ExhibitionPresentation by Faizah Alshehri
Exhibition Number 86
Abstract
Objective: Preterm birth (PTB) (birth before 37 weeks) is a significant public health concern associated with neonatal mortality and morbidity. This study examines the combined associations between three psychosocial stressors—perceived discrimination, education attainment, perceived socioeconomic status—and PTB in a diverse sample of Hispanic/Latina women using data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Methods: A total of 489 diverse Hispanic/Latina mothers with singleton births between 2008 and 2017 were included. Logistic regression analysis with a sequential modeling approach was employed to analyze the combined associations of psychosocial stressors and PTB as a binary outcome while adjusting for multiple covariates. ORs and 95% CIs were calculated to assess the strength of these associations across three models. Results: Several variables were significantly associated with increased odds of PTB, including the status of being separated, divorced, or widowed (OR= 4.37, 95% CI= [1.44, 12.56], p= .01), pre-pregnancy BMI (OR= 1.06, 95% CI= [1.00, 1.11], p= .03), and having one prior pregnancy with a PTB history was also associated with higher odds of (OR = 4.21, 95% CI= [1.03, 16.96], p= .04). The sensitivity analysis yielded a significant association of medium education attainment with decreased odds of PTB (OR= 0.46, 95% CI= [0.22, 0.97], p= .04). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of relationship stability, community-tailored maternal obesity interventions, and accounting for the unique heterogeneity of these populations to enhance scientific rigor. Also, it highlights the potential protective effect of medium education against PTB, suggesting stressors in higher education for Hispanic/Latina women. Keywords: preterm birth, psychosocial stressors, perceived discrimination, education attainment, perceived socioeconomic status, diverse Hispanic/Latina sample, logistic regression analysis
Importance
This study is that it is one of few studies that examined the combined association of three psychosocial stressors with PTB risk in a diverse sample of Hispanics/Latinas in both their backgrounds and nativity. Therefore, one of the implications of this study is highlighting the importance of investigating health risk factors within and across the uniquely heterogeneous Hispanic/Latina populations, encouraging more rigorous research. It highlights the importance of relationship stability, community-tailored maternal obesity interventions, and the potential protective effect of medium education against PTB, suggesting stressors in higher education for Hispanic/Latina women.