More info for researchers interested in the MOMS Study

Research Objectives:

  • Determine the relative importance of early versus later sensitive windows for resilient stress biology at 6 months and at 3-5 years of age. To do so, we will analyze a range of maternal sociocultural protective factors in relation to DNA methylation measured at 6 stress-related genes (149 CpG sites) in saliva, and cortisol reactivity to lab-based stress tasks at both time frames.
  • Assess how changes to stress biology may relate to emotional regulation and cognition 

Study Timepoints:

1. At pregnancy (n=250): 

  • Maternal sociocultural and emotional resilience survey

2. At six-month visit (n=150): 

  • Maternal sociocultural and emotional resilience survey
  • Child saliva for HPA axis, cortisol and DNA methylation in response to Still Face, a validated stressor 

3. At 3-5 year old assessment (current collection):

  • Maternal sociocultural and emotional resilience survey
  • Child saliva for HPA axis, cortisol and DNA methylation in response to Lab-Tab (Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery)
  • Child emotional resilience measures 

Scales Used:

  • Mexican American Biculturalism Scale: Bicultural Comfort, Facility, and Advantages for Adolescents and Adults (MABS)
  • Mexican-American Cultural Values Scales (MACVS).
  • Neighborhood Quality Evaluation Scale (NQES)
  • Neighborhood Environment Questionnaire (NEQ)
  • Prenatal Social Support Instrument-Revised (PSSI-R)
  • Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)
  • Life OrientationTest revised (LOT-R) 
  • Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE)
  • The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) 
  •  State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)