The Relation of Maternal Psychosocial Risk Factors to Infant Safe Sleep Practices
Kalani Gates1, Summer Chahin2, Amy Damashek3
1Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA.
Insights
Maternal depression increases co-sleeping risk for all mothers, while stress impacts safe sleep practices primarily in White mothers. Addressing these factors is key to reducing sleep-related infant deaths.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Psychosocial Epidemiology
Background:
- Sleep-related infant deaths remain a significant public health concern in the U.S.
- Infants of color face disproportionately higher risks of sleep-related mortality.
- Barriers exist for families adhering to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of maternal psychosocial risk factors on safe sleep practices.
- To examine the moderating effect of maternal race on the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and safe sleep behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 274 mothers recruited postpartum from a Midwestern hospital.
- Data collection via telephone interviews 2-4 months after infant birth.
- Assessment of maternal psychosocial risk factors and infant safe sleep practices.
Main Results:
- Maternal depression was associated with increased likelihood of co-sleeping across all racial groups.
- Maternal stress predicted reduced adherence to safe sleep guidelines specifically among White mothers.
- Psychosocial factors significantly impact maternal engagement with safe sleep recommendations.
Conclusions:
- Interventions targeting maternal stress and depression are crucial for improving adherence to safe sleep guidelines.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between maternal mental health and infant sleep safety.
- Understanding these dynamics can inform targeted public health strategies to prevent infant mortality.
Objectives:
Sleep-related infant deaths are a common and preventable cause of infant mortality in the United States. Moreover, infants of color are at a greater risk of sleep-related deaths than are White infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published safe sleep guidelines to minimize the number of sleep-related infant deaths; however, many families face barriers to following these guidelines. Research on the role of psychosocial risk factors (i.e., depression, stress, domestic violence, substance use) in mothers' engagement in safe sleep practices is limited. The present study examined the role of maternal psychosocial risk factors on maternal safe sleep practices and the moderating effects of maternal race on this relationship.
Methods:
Participants in this study were mothers (N = 274) who were recruited from a Midwestern hospital postpartum. Data on the participants' psychosocial risk factors, and safe sleep practices were collected via telephone interview 2-4 months following the birth of their infant.
Results:
Predictive models indicated that depression and stress impacted mothers' engagement in following the safe sleep guidelines. Specifically, higher levels of maternal depression predicted greater likelihood of co-sleeping, regardless of mothers' race. Higher levels of maternal stress also predicted lower engagement in safe sleep behaviors for White mothers only.
Conclusion For Practice:
Early interventions to address stress and depression may help to increase maternal adherence to the AAP's safe sleep guidelines. Additional research on the underlying mechanisms of depression and stress on maternal safe sleep engagement is needed.
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