Who is distressed? A comparison of psychosocial stress in pregnancy across seven ethnicities
Abstract
Calgary, Alberta has the fourth highest immigrant population in Canada and ethnic minorities comprise 28 % of its total population. Previous studies have found correlations between minority status and poor pregnancy outcomes. One explanation for this phenomenon is that minority status increases the levels of stress experienced during pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to identify specific types of maternal psychosocial stress experienced by women of an ethnic minority (Asian, Arab, Other Asian, African, First Nations and Latin American). Findings from this study indicate that women who identify with an ethnic minority were more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety, inadequate social support, and problems with emotional and physical health during pregnancy than women who identified with the White reference group. This study has identified that women of an ethic minority experience greater psychosocial stress in pregnancy compared to the White reference group.
Notes
Location
Calgary, Alberta
Key recommendations
“ensure optimal health and well-being of its citizens, including those who are often least empowered and most vulnerable: women of an ethnic minority” (p. 9)
Gaps identified
Women from non-Western/collectivist cultures tend to report less social support than the majority of women from Western/individualistic cultures in Canada. This indicates that while women of non-Western/collectivist cultural orientation are vulnerable to experiencing insufficient social support, this experience may be due to their immigration and/or minority status and not Canadian culture.
Key findings
The findings show that women of minority status have a higher likelihood of experiencing depression, anxiety, inadequate social support, and problems with emotional and physical health during pregnancy than white women. This suggests that ethnic minority status is correlated with higher levels of stress in pregnancy compared.
Key populations
Pregnant women of ethnic minority
Community organizations
NA
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
NA
Open-access – Yes
https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-016-1015-8