The Association Between Miscarriage and Allostatic Load with Traumatic Pregnancy Experience as a Moderator: A Longitudinal Study for Women with Histories in Foster Care and Juvenile Justice
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Date
2023
Authors
Gondoputro, Angelica
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Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Miscarriage is a common physical experience defined by the loss of a fetus before 20 weeks gestation. Miscarriage is frequently described as a traumatic experience yet is often studied as an outcome of stress rather than a contributor to stress accumulation. This study seeks to understand the link between miscarriage on allostatic load in individuals who have been involved in the American juvenile justice system. Allostatic load (AL) is the wear and tear on the body due to stress accumulation over an individual’s lifetime. Contributors to a high AL may include socioeconomic disadvantages, mental and physical health disorders, and traumatic pregnancy experiences. In the Turning Points for Women study, participants’ AL was quantified by five biomarkers. The biomarkers were a set of biological indicators assessed to determine typical or atypical functioning. Cardiovascular biomarkers included systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). Metabolic biomarkers consisted of participants’ body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Analysis of these data will help us understand how individuals with histories in juvenile justice and foster care are impacted by adverse events such as miscarriage. Preliminary analysis of SBP, DBP, PEF, BMI and WHR show no evidence that miscarriage is linked with AL. Traumatic pregnancy was not shown to moderate this relationship. However, blood spot analysis of proteins and lipids is yet to be included for a full picture of AL. Further research is required to understand linkages between AL and experiences that are common for women in juvenile justice.
Description
70 pages
Keywords
Miscarriage, Allostatic Load, Traumatic Pregnancy, Juvenile Justice, Foster Care