@misc{ScholaskeLindnerMatthesKurtetal., author = {Scholaske, Laura and Lindner-Matthes, Denise and Kurt, Medlin and Duman, Elif Aysimi and Sahbaz, C. and Spallek, Jacob and Entringer, Sonja}, title = {Intergenerational transmission of health disparities among Turkish-origin residents in Germany: role of maternal stress and stress biology during pregnancy. A study protocol}, series = {European Journal of Public Health}, volume = {28}, journal = {European Journal of Public Health}, number = {Suppl. 1}, issn = {1464-360X}, doi = {10.1093/eurpub/cky048.044}, pages = {S. 126}, abstract = {Background:Turkish-origin immigrants constitute one of the biggest migration groups in Germany where they exhibit higher levels of social disadvantage when compared to the majority population. Research has elucidated the underlying mechanisms by which social disadvantage is biologically embedded to impact health over the lifespan. However, relatively little is known about how its effects are transmitted across generations. Aims of the study: To elucidate the effects of maternal migration status and socioeconomic status on stress-related maternal-placental-foetal (MPF) biological processes across gestation and on subsequent infant birth and health outcomes. Methods: We are conducting a longitudinal cohort study of N = 450 child-mother dyads with serial measures across gestation and birth through the first year of life. Our proposed study population will include approximately equal numbers of Turkish-origin women in Germany, German women in Germany, Turkish women living in Turkey and their offspring. Study visits are conducted from the second trimester of pregnancy to the end of the first year of life to assess maternal socio-economic and migration-related information, psychological well-being, nutrition, medical risk variables, and MPF stress biology markers from maternal blood and saliva samples. Infant anthropometric measures, developmental outcomes and stress markers in saliva are assessed throughout the first year of life. Analyses: We will test specific hypotheses regarding the association between migration background, socioeconomic status and MPF stress biology. We will furthermore quantify the association of maternal migration background- and social disadvantage-related MPF stress biology measures on pregnancy and child health outcomes. Discussion: This is the first study on foetal programming of health disparities with a focus on Turkish-origin women in Germany. The significance and impact of this study derives from the importance of achieving a better understanding of underlying mechanisms that alter disease vulnerability in minority and disadvantaged populations.}, language = {en} } @misc{EntringerScholaskeKurtetal., author = {Entringer, Sonja and Scholaske, Laura and Kurt, Medlin and Duman, Elif Aysimi and Adam, Emma K. and Razum, Oliver and Spallek, Jacob}, title = {Diurnal cortisol variation during pregnancy in Turkish origin and non-migrant women in a German birth cohort study}, series = {Journal of Psychosomatic Research}, volume = {162}, journal = {Journal of Psychosomatic Research}, issn = {0022-3999}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.111020}, pages = {1 -- 10}, abstract = {Background Immigrants from Turkey experience health disadvantages relative to non-immigrant populations in Germany that are manifest from the earliest stages of the lifespan onwards and are perpetuated across generations. Chronic stress and perturbations of stress-responsive physiological systems, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, are believed to in part mediate this relationship. Cortisol plays an important role in the association between maternal stress during pregnancy and many pregnancy-, birth- and offspring-related outcomes. We therefore examined whether maternal migrant background is associated with diurnal cortisol variation during pregnancy. Methods 109 pregnant women (incl. n = 32 Turkish origin women) that participated in a multi-site prospective cohort study in Germany collected saliva samples across the day on two consecutive days around 24 and 32 weeks gestation. Hierarchical linear models were applied to quantify associations between migrant background and diurnal cortisol variation across pregnancy. Results Women of Turkish origin exhibited a significantly lower cortisol awakening response (CAR) and a flatter diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) compared to non-migrant women after adjusting for household income. These relationships between migrant status and diurnal cortisol variation were mainly driven by 2nd generation migrants. Discussion A potential HPA axis dysregulation of Turkish-origin pregnant women may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of health disadvantages in this group.}, language = {en} } @misc{ScholaskeEntringerRazumetal., author = {Scholaske, Laura and Entringer, Sonja and Razum, Oliver and Spallek, Jacob}, title = {Elevated stress during pregnancy in women of Turkish origin: Results from a prospective cohort study}, series = {European Journal of Public Health}, volume = {32}, journal = {European Journal of Public Health}, number = {Supplement_3}, issn = {1101-1262}, doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.608}, pages = {2}, abstract = {Background Ethnic health disparities exist in the context of pregnancy and childbirth, suggesting that women of Turkish origin (i.e., they or their parents born in Turkey) in Germany have higher risks for some adverse maternal health and child developmental outcomes. Stress is believed to be a relevant pathway by which migration may be associated with these risks. In this study, we tested associations of Turkish origin with stress biology and psychological stress experiences during pregnancy. Methods 140 pregnant women (33 of Turkish/26 of other origin) participated in a prospective cohort study that was carried out in Bielefeld and Berlin (Spallek et al., 2020). Inflammatory markers CRP and IL-6 from venous blood samples and diurnal cortisol profiles from salivary cortisol samples were derived and participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) at two study visits during pregnancy (T1: 20-25 weeks of gestation, T2: 30-35 weeks of gestation). Multilevel models were conducted to account for the nested data structure due to repeated measurements. Results Compared to non-migrant women, women of Turkish origin had significantly higher inflammatory levels (b = 0.28, SE = 0.14, p=.052) (Spallek et al., 2021), a blunted cortisol awakening response (b=-0.21, CI=-0.38-0.03, p<.05), a flatter diurnal cortisol slope (b = 0.02, CI = 0.00-0.04, p<.05), and higher PSS (b = 0.46, SE = 0.13, p< .001) and CESD scores (b = 0.29, SE = 0.08, p<.001) during pregnancy after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Conclusions The results of our study suggest higher stress at the biological and psychological level in pregnant women of Turkish origin. Stress is a risk factor for pregnancy complications and poor birth and child developmental outcomes. To reduce such unequally distributed risks, interventions for stress reduction are needed that are tailored to women of Turkish origin.}, language = {en} } @misc{ScholaskeAdamSpalleketal., author = {Scholaske, Laura and Adam, Emma K. and Spallek, Jacob and Entringer, Sonja}, title = {Maternal BMI and inflammation during pregnancy: a bi- or unidirectional association?}, series = {Brain, Behavior, and Immunity}, volume = {106}, journal = {Brain, Behavior, and Immunity}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbi.2022.07.049}, pages = {12}, abstract = {Methods: 140 pregnant women participated in a multi-site prospective cohort study in, Germany with two study visits during pregnancy (T1: 24.44 ± 2.34, T2: 32.92 ± 1.72 weeks of gestation). Maternal BMI was derived from body length and current weight and was residualized for gestational week at assessment. Pro-inflammatory markers CRP and IL-6 were analyzed from venous blood samples and combined into a repeatedly measured composite inflammation score. Results: In a path model, T1-BMI significantly predicted T2-inflammation (b=0.53, SE=0.02, p <.001), and T1-inflammation predicted T2-BMI (b=0.46, SE=0.42, p <.001), suggesting a bidirectional relationship between BMI and inflammation. However, further adjustment for pre-pregnancy BMI diminished the association between T1-inflammation and T2-BMI (b=0.004, SE=0.22, p =.922), whereas the relationship between T1-BMI and T2-inflammation remained significant (b=0.20, SE=0.01, p =.004). Thus, adjusting for pre-pregnancy BMI underlined a unidirectional relationship. Conclusions: Based on these results, reducing overweight may be a relevant target for interventions to reduce inflammation and the risk of subsequent adverse outcomes.}, language = {en} }