reducing pregnancy risks: the mastery lifestyle intervention

Conditions: Mental Health Wellness 1; Preterm Birth

Summary: this randomized controlled trial will test an intervention called the mastery lifestyle intervention (the mli) that was developed from data of 1000+pregnant hispanic women related to risks of preterm birth. the investigators will deliver a psychoeducational intervention that is manualized over 6 group sessions. the investigators will also have a usual care group that receives standard prenatal care. the investigators plan to enroll 238 pregnant women and start the study with them at 14-20 weeks gestation. the investigators will also test the biological response of the intervention by measuring corticotropin releasing hormone, progesterone, estriol, and test for cotinine. the investigators will also determine any effect on infant outcomes at delivery.

to address the gaps related to interventions for hispanic mexican american and african american pregnant women, the investigators have developed and successfully pilot tested the mastery lifestyle intervention (mli): a culturally-relevant, manualized psychosocial group intervention that integrates two evidence-based behavioral therapies - acceptance and commitment therapy (act) and problem-solving therapy (pst). the mli is a 6-week program designed to be integrated into regular prenatal care to facilitate more comprehensive care delivered by a nurse practitioner (np) or certified nurse midwife (cnm). we propose the following hypotheses for a randomized controlled trial: hypothesis 1a: participants in the 6-week mli will have decreased depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, disengaged coping, and increased active coping compared to uc at end-of-treatment and after 6 weeks. hypothesis 1b: the effects of mli versus uc on depression, anxiety, stress, acculturative stress, and coping will be mediated via psychological flexibility and moderated by acculturation. hypothesis 2a: compared to uc, mli participants will have significantly lower mean levels of crh over time from baseline to end-of-treatment. hypothesis 2b: compared to uc, mli participants will have significantly higher progesterone levels and lower estriol levels (higher progesterone/estriol ratios) over time from baseline to end-of-treatment. hypothesis 3: as compared to uc, infants from mothers in the mli group will have longer gestational age, greater birth weight, and fewer nicu admissions.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * providing informed consent; * ability to read and speak english or spanish * pregnant at 14-20 weeks gestation with one fetus, gestational dating will be reviewed before enrollment via ultrasound administered per standard of care * intrauterine pregnancy * self-identification as latina of mexican heritage or african american * age 18 to 45 years * born in mexico or u.s. born and currently living in the u.s. * medicaid or other government supported insurance * women who score 10 or greater on the center for epidemiological studies depression scale (ces-d) or 5 or greater on the generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale (gad-7), or 14 or \> on the perceived stress scale as administered by clinical staff of the participating provider * willingness to adhere to the mli regimen or usual care regimen * women who develop gdm after enrollment in the study will remain in the study. °development of hypertension or preeclampsia, pyelonephritis, or gdm will be considered an effect modifier in analysis of infant outcomes. exclusion criteria: after initial review of the electronic health record (ehr): * major systemic infections such as hiv, hepatitis * \<18 years of age * enrollment in a prenatal program such as the nurse family partnership * severe cognitive or psychiatric impairment per judgment of providers, that precludes cooperation with study protocol * inability to read english or spanish

Keywords: latina pregnancy mental health corticotropin releasing hormone progesterone estriol gestational age african american women