# Social stressors and inflammation: A mixed methods approach to preterm birth

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA · 2020 · $197,610

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Black women are more likely to become ill with COVID-19 than Whites, with disparities reported in many
cities including Detroit, one of our sites. Black women are overrepresented in the low-wage essential workforce
and more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods (e.g., crowded housing) facing challenges in social
distancing. Blacks have less in the way of savings and possibly less flexible employers than Whites, increasing
risks for economic hardship (e.g., loss of jobs). Black women may experience discrimination in obtaining
testing and medical care for COVID-19 symptoms for themselves and their families. Due to “shelter in place”
policy and job losses with the pandemic, Black women may also experience increased conflict with their partner
and higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) due to families spending nearly all waking and sleeping time
together. Racial disparities -- in COVID-19 prevalence and death rates, employment, neighborhood conditions,
economic hardship, IPV, and discrimination in testing and medical care -- may all increase psychological
distress (e.g., depressive symptoms) for Black women. However, no published research has examined Black
women’s experiences during a viral pandemic such as we are now experiencing. We hypothesize that Black
women will experience more discrimination, economic hardship, conflict with partner, IPV and psychological
distress as well as lower levels of support during the pandemic than pre-pandemic.
 Our cohort is comprised of 658 Black women from the Detroit, MI and Columbus, OH metropolitan areas.
As part of the R01 study, women completed questionnaires during their pregnancies (T1=pre-pandemic). For
this supplemental study, women will complete an online survey (T2= during the pandemic) on a smart phone or
another device. The T2 survey will include key domains from the T1 survey (e.g., depressive symptoms, social
support, IPV) and provide a second critical time point in the context of the pandemic. We expect some domains
to be especially impacted by the pandemic (e.g., discrimination, stress). We also added items to capture
COVID-19 specific issues, including experiences within their network (e.g. family members sickened), as well
as measures pertinent to the situation (e.g., social isolation). A subsample of women will participate in
qualitative interviews for an in-depth understanding of their experiences. We aim to: (1) Examine associations
of disadvantaged neighborhoods, racial discrimination and economic hardship with psychological distress at
both time points (T1 and T2); (2) Examine whether relationship with the partner, IPV, and psychological distress
are impacted by the pandemic by comparing the pre-pandemic and during pandemic time points; (3) Examine
how social isolation and social support relate to relationship with the partner, IPV, and psychological distress
during the pandemic; and (4) Explore pregnant women’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through
qua...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176636
- **Project number:** 3R01MD011575-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Carmen Giurgescu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $197,610
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-01-06 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10176636

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176636, Social stressors and inflammation: A mixed methods approach to preterm birth (3R01MD011575-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176636. Licensed CC0.

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