Date of Graduation

Fall 8-31-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department

Psychology

Program

Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

First Advisor

Brent Richard

Second Advisor

Dhara Meghani

Third Advisor

Nancy Selix

Abstract

There is a dearth of information about pregnancy related anxiety (PRA) in Latina women, yet a growing body of literature demonstrates adverse birth outcomes for mother and infant due to PRA. This study examined the association between acculturation, religiosity, marianismo, parity, and a Latina pregnant woman’s relationship with her healthcare provider with PRA in Latina women aged 18 and above. Acculturation was expected to be the more robust factor amongst the independent variables.

Participants in this study (n = 53) were Hispanic, Chicano, Latino or had a Latin or Spanish heritage, over the age of 18, pregnant at the time of the survey, English or Spanish language speaking, and experienced varying parity (number of pregnancies), and English or Spanish language speaking. Participants were recruited through email and asked to participate in an online survey offered in either the English or Spanish language based on participant preference.

A hierarchical regression assessed the contribution of acculturation, religiosity, and marianismo on PRA. A t-test examined the impact of parity on PRA. A Pearson r was conducted to examine the relationship between a pregnant Latina woman and her health care provider associated with PRA. Results showed that acculturation accounted for 15.4% of the variance in PRA and was the only statistically significant predictor of PRA.

The results of this study showed the presence of PRA amongst Latina pregnant women with a larger amount of variance accounted for by acculturation when compared with religiosity and marianismo. With these results in mind, culturally sensitive and timely assessments of Latina pregnant women’s mental health should be considered early in the prenatal period.

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