Mental Health Problems, Legal Involvement, and Smoking During Pregnancy

Abstract

The current study examined predictors of past 30-day cigarette use among a US nationally representative sample of pregnant women over the age of 18 (N = 1,782). The study consisted of secondary data analysis of the 2005–2007 survey years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Logistic regression analyses indicated that low-income women, those who experienced mental health problems in the past year, and women who experienced legal problems were more likely to smoke during pregnancy. Limitations to the study as well as implications for future research are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Problèmes de santé mentale, procédures juridique, et le tabagisme pendant la grossesse

Au cours de notre étude, nous avons examiné les statistiques reflétant la consommation de cigarettes sur un mois d'un échantillon national représentatif de femmes enceintes âgées de plus de 18 ans (N = 1,782). Nous avons procédé à une analyse de données secondaires provenant de la National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) de 2005, 2006 et 2007. Les analyses de régression logistique indiquent que les femmes disposant de faibles revenus, ayant souffert de problèmes de santé mentale l'année passée ou étant cœur de problèmes juridiques, ont eu plus tendance à fumer durant leur grossesse. Nous évoquons également les limites de l'analyse ainsi que les possibilités de recherches futures. Mots clés: grossesse, tabagisme, cigarettes, procédures judiciaires, santé mentale.

RESUMEN

Effectos de involucracion legal; y de salud en la facultad mental de mujeres que fuman durante un embarazo

Este estudio investigó indicaciones pronosticadas al uso de cigarrillos durante los últimos 30 días en una muestra nacional representiva de mujeres embarazadas quien tienen más de 18 años. Este estudio analizo encuestas del National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) entre los años 2005, 2006, y 2007. Los análisis de modelo regresión logística indicaron que mujeres de bajo sueldo, mujeres con problemas mentales, y mujeres con problemas legales tenían la probabilidad de fumar más durante el embarazo. Las limitaciones del estudio e implicaciones para investigaciones en el futuro son discutidas.

Keywords :

• pregnancy
• smoking
• cigarettes
• legal involvement
• mental health

THE AUTHORS

Ellen L. Vaughan (PhD, 2006, University of Miami) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology at Indiana University. Prior to joining the faculty at Indiana University, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship in substance abuse prevention research at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr Vaughan's research interests include the prevention of problematic alcohol and drug use among Latino adolescents and emerging adults.

Lisa M. Kratz is a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Indiana University. She received a BA in Psychology from Binghamton University in 2007. She has also worked as a Project Coordinator at the University at Buffalo. Her research interests include health behaviors among pregnant women and the prevention of substance use during pregnancy. She will graduate with her PhD in 2014.

Notes

1 The reader is reminded that the posited concepts and processes of “protective” and “risk” are often noted in the literature without an adequate delineation of their dimensions (linear, non-linear), their “demands,” the critical necessary conditions (endogenously as well as exogenously; from a micro to a macro level) that are essential for either of them to operate (begin, continue, become anchored and integrate, change as de facto realities change, cease, etc.) or not to, and without clarifying whether their underpinnings are theory-driven, empirically based, individual and/or systemic stake holder-bound, based upon “principles of faith,” historical observation, precedents and traditions that accumulate over time, perceptual and judgmental constraints, “transient public opinion,” or what. It is necessary to clarify these terms if they are not to remain as yet another shibboleth in a field of many stereotypes. Editor's note.