Immigration Stress & Maternal Sensitivity In Mexican American Mothers: The Role Of Parasympathetic Activity & Cultural Resiliency Factors

The immigration process is associated with a host of cultural stressors that may impact family and parental wellbeing. The present study examined whether immigration stress was related to reduced maternal sensitivity, and whether lower PNS activity would account for their associations. A secondary aim was to test the buffering effect of cultural resiliency factors (i.e., familism values, cultural orientation) on maternal PNS activity. Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of Mexican American mothers (N = 322; M age = 27 years). Contrary to hypotheses, higher immigration stress was significantly associated with higher maternal resting RSA (B = 0.15, SE = .07, p = .04). However, immigration stress and maternal sensitivity were not significantly associated (β = 0.09, SE = .06, p = .15). Moderation analyses revealed that the association between immigration stress and maternal RSA varied depending on certain familism values, but not on acculturation. Specifically, immigration stress was associated with higher RSA among mothers who endorsed a stronger belief that their decisions should involve and represent their families (B = 0.14, SE = 0.06, p = 0.02). Strong familism values and high basal RSA may afford Mexican American mothers the capacity to adaptively navigate and overcome immigration stress, and thus to recast immigration stress into an opportunity to act in accordance with their cultural beliefs and create meaning from stressful immigration-related events. The current study contributes to our understanding of the sequelae of immigration stress in Mexican American mothers and the cultural factors that may alter its effects

A Review of Imaginary Companions and Their Implications for Development

A curious childhood phenomenon that has received relatively little attention in developmental literature is the imaginary companion (IC). Increased recognition of the importance of imaginative play and a desire to stimulate children’s early cognitive development makes ICs a particularly relevant topic. The significant prevalence of ICs in the population has permitted a modest yet diverse range of research investigating the functions, correlates, and implications of ICs for the children that create them. This literature review summarizes some of this research in order to describe the functions and forms that ICs may take, as well as social and personality characteristics of children with ICs. It also examines the role that ICs may serve in cognitive and social development, particularly with respect to children’s acquisition of Theory of Mind. Finally, this article addresses ways to integrate ICs into other aspects of children’s lives, gaps in the existing literature, and potential directions for future research in the field.</jats:p

The Birth and Beyond (BABY) study: protocol for a birth cohort study investigating the social and environmental determinants of pregnancy-related outcomes in Black American families

Introduction In the USA, Black birthing people and infants experience disproportionately worse pregnancy-related health outcomes. The causes for these disparities are unknown, but evidence suggests that they are likely socially and environmentally based. Efforts to identify the determinants of these racial disparities are urgently needed to elucidate the highest priority targets for intervention. The Birth and Beyond (BABY) study evaluates how micro-level (eg, interpersonal and family) and macro-level (eg, neighbourhood and environmental) risk and resiliency factors transact to shape birth person-infant health, and underlying psychobiological mechanisms.Methods and analysis The BABY study will follow 350 Black families (birthing parents, non-birthing parents and infants) from pregnancy through the first postpartum year, with research visits during pregnancy and at infant ages 6 and 12 months. Research visits comprise a combination of interview about a range of recent and life course stress and resiliency exposures and supports, psychophysiological (sympathetic, parasympathetic and adrenocortical) assessment and behavioural observations of parent–infant coregulatory behaviours. Spatial analyses are completed by mapping parent current and past residential addresses onto archival public data (eg, about neighbourhood quality and racial segregation). Finally, EMRs are abstracted for information about birthing parent relevant medical history, pregnancy conditions and infant birth outcomes. Analyses will evaluate the risk and resiliency mechanisms that contribute to pregnancy and birth-related outcomes for Black birthing people and their infants, and the protective role of individual, familial, cultural, and community supports.Ethics and dissemination The BABY study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Albany Medical Centre. The study team consulted with local organisations and groups comprised of stakeholders and community leaders and continues to do so throughout the study. Research results will be disseminated with the scientific and local community as appropriate