Isabel Martinez1, Jeannette R Ickovics2, Danya E Keene2, Rafael Perez-Escamilla2, Trace S Kershaw2. 1. Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, New Haven, Connecticut. Electronic address: isabel.martinez@yale.edu. 2. Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale University School of Public Health and Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, New Haven, Connecticut.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The burden of syndemics-which are clusters of overlapping risk factors that adversely impact health-has been previously evaluated among high-risk individuals, yet little is known regarding syndemics within the relationship context. METHODS: We evaluated concordant and discordant syndemic profiles among 296 pregnant couples and their actor-partner effects longitudinally from pregnancy to 1-year postpartum. RESULTS: Syndemic score and severity were correlated across all time points for men and women. There was a significant difference in syndemic score (βMen-Women = .2736, p = <.0001) and severity (βMen-Women = .4282, p = <.0001) during pregnancy. For actor effects, we found score (βT1-T2 = .273, p = .002; βT2-T3 = .300, p = .005) and severity (βT1-T2 = .253, p = .004; βT2-T3 = .418, p = .001) were significantly associated across all time points for women. For men, only syndemic score predicted subsequent score at later time points (βT1-T2 = .393, p = <.001; βT2-T3 = .421, p = <.001). Severity was not significantly associated across time (βT1-T2 = .043, p = .566; βT2-T3 = .172, p = .066). For partner effects, we found women's syndemic risk to influence men's syndemic risk, while men had no significant effect on women's syndemic risk. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy provides an opportunity to reduce syndemic burden among men and women. Couples-based prevention programs may serve to reduce syndemic risk for both partners, particularly during the postpartum period.
PURPOSE: The burden of syndemics-which are clusters of overlapping risk factors that adversely impact health-has been previously evaluated among high-risk individuals, yet little is known regarding syndemics within the relationship context. METHODS: We evaluated concordant and discordant syndemic profiles among 296 pregnant couples and their actor-partner effects longitudinally from pregnancy to 1-year postpartum. RESULTS: Syndemic score and severity were correlated across all time points for men and women. There was a significant difference in syndemic score (βMen-Women = .2736, p = <.0001) and severity (βMen-Women = .4282, p = <.0001) during pregnancy. For actor effects, we found score (βT1-T2 = .273, p = .002; βT2-T3 = .300, p = .005) and severity (βT1-T2 = .253, p = .004; βT2-T3 = .418, p = .001) were significantly associated across all time points for women. For men, only syndemic score predicted subsequent score at later time points (βT1-T2 = .393, p = <.001; βT2-T3 = .421, p = <.001). Severity was not significantly associated across time (βT1-T2 = .043, p = .566; βT2-T3 = .172, p = .066). For partner effects, we found women's syndemic risk to influence men's syndemic risk, while men had no significant effect on women's syndemic risk. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy provides an opportunity to reduce syndemic burden among men and women. Couples-based prevention programs may serve to reduce syndemic risk for both partners, particularly during the postpartum period.
Authors: Eileen V Pitpitan; Seth C Kalichman; Lisa A Eaton; Demetria Cain; Kathleen J Sikkema; Melissa H Watt; Donald Skinner; Desiree Pieterse Journal: Ann Behav Med Date: 2013-04
Authors: Trace S Kershaw; Kathleen A Ethier; Linda M Niccolai; Jessica B Lewis; Stephanie Milan; Christina Meade; Jeannette R Ickovics Journal: J Behav Med Date: 2010-07-04
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