# The Role of Social Support as a Buffer Against Adverse Perinatal Outcomes Among Women Experiencing Discrimination and Neighborhood Deprivation

> **NIH NIH F31** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $27,783

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Adverse birth outcomes in infants affect health over the life course, and preeclampsia and postpartum
depression contribute significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality. Neighborhood deprivation and
discrimination are associated with these adverse perinatal outcomes and their disparities, but it is difficult to
develop interventions to limit these harmful exposures. Research suggests that social support is a modifiable
characteristic that can buffer against the adverse effects of maternal stress on some birth outcomes, but less is
known about its potential to buffer the effects of neighborhood deprivation and discrimination on perinatal
outcomes. Aim 1 will evaluate the degree to which prenatal social support modifies the effect of neighborhood
deprivation on adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and small for gestational age.
Aim 2 will examine the degree to which prenatal social support modifies the effect of neighborhood deprivation
on preeclampsia. Aim 3 will investigate the degree to which postnatal social support modifies the effect of
discrimination on postpartum depression. The Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-
Be multi-site cohort of 9,289 pregnancies will be used for Aims 1 and 2. In this cohort, neighborhood
deprivation was measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and social support was measured by the
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The Community and Child Health Network
multi-site cohort of 2,510 pregnancies will be used for Aim 3. In this cohort, discrimination was measured by
the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS), postnatal social support was measured by the Medical Outcomes
Study (MOS) Social Support Scale, and postpartum depression was measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal
Depression Scale (EPDS) at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum. The hypothesis is that the adverse effects of
neighborhood deprivation and discrimination on perinatal outcomes will be diminished among women with high
perceived social support compared to women with low perceived social support and secondarily that this
buffering effect will differ by racial group and by type of social support. Our findings could help inform the value
of psychosocial risk screening in prenatal care to assist in identifying pregnant women most likely to benefit
from resources such as support groups, insurance-covered doulas, and new interventions developed with a
nuanced understanding of which types of social support are most effective and for which outcomes. The
planned research and training goals will enrich the applicant’s rigorous training in advanced epidemiologic
methods, psychosocial epidemiology, perinatal health disparities, and prenatal clinical care, as well as provide
professional development in preparation for her transition to a postdoctoral fellowship. Equipped with a strong
mentoring team and Emory’s rich training environment, this fellowship will provide a stron...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10894647
- **Project number:** 5F31HD111310-02
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Meredith A. Dixon
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $27,783
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10894647

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10894647, The Role of Social Support as a Buffer Against Adverse Perinatal Outcomes Among Women Experiencing Discrimination and Neighborhood Deprivation (5F31HD111310-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10894647. Licensed CC0.

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