The Role of Structural and Interpersonal Discrimination on Latina Mother and Child Immune Pathways

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ABSTRACT Interpersonal and structural discrimination can be transferred from mother to child by heightening maternal stress during a child’s early sensitive developmental windows: in-utero and early childhood. As Latinx families acculturate to the US, maternally experienced discrimination may become biologically embedded in a mother’s young child, increasing her child’s vulnerability to chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g., depression, obesity) across the lifespan. Dysregulated immune pathways may provide biological explanations for early childhood health conditions that increase intergenerationally, including chronic childhood diseases and socioemotional difficulties. Yet, the multi-level contextual influences, such as cumulative discrimination, which may drive a trajectory of worsened maternal and child health remain elusive. This proposed study will examine the degree to which maternal experiences of discrimination may induce a pro-inflammatory state in both mother and child via immune dysregulation—a critical pathway linking stress to chronic disease. This proposal integrates theoretical frameworks (Biological Embedding of Childhood Adversity Model and Social Safety Theory) to understand the relationship between discrimination and immune pathways during pregnancy and early childhood through two specific aims: Aim 1a: Determine the extent to which interpersonal and structural discrimination is associated with maternal immune profiles (20 inflammatory plasma proteins) during pregnancy; 1b: Explore if maternal acculturation moderates the relationships between interpersonal and structural discrimination and maternal immune profiles. Aim 2a: Explore whether maternal experiences of interpersonal and structural discrimination are associated with a child’s immune regulation (DNA methylation of immune-regulatory genes, TNF-a, IL-6, NR3C1) and socioemotional functioning at 3-5 years old; 2b: Explore whether maternal social support moderates relationships between maternal interpersonal and structural discrimination and child immune regulation and socioemotional functioning. The accompanying career development plan will provide a foundation to a) advance my knowledge in early child socioemotional development; b) develop skills and knowledge integrating biological mechanisms within social contexts related to human development; c) develop skills in community engagement strategies and primary data collection in Latinx populations; d) develop advanced skills in quantitative analytical methods. My strong mentorship team will guide me throughout this award. Collectively, the career development and research plan will support my growth as an independent nurse scientist examining social and biological determinants of maternal and child health in Latinx families. This proposal aligns with NINR’s Strategic Plan to identify multi-level social determinants of health that disadvantage specific population groups. Understanding interactions between biological mechanisms and social contexts early in the developmental cascade may inform preventive interventions that counteract the emotional and biological sequalae of discrimination in Latina mothers and their young children.