Prenatal exposure to heat stress and postpartum depressive symptoms in the MADRES cohort in urban Los Angeles.

ABSTRACT: While extreme temperatures have been linked to adverse mental health outcomes, the impact of prenatal heat stress on postpartum depression remains understudied. We evaluated associations between prenatal heat stress and depressive symptoms one year postpartum, identified susceptible gestational windows, and assessed whether neighborhood climate vulnerability modifies maternal susceptibility to heat-related postpartum depression. We included 275 predominantly low-income Hispanic/Latina participants in the MADRES cohort. Residential wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), is more reflective of physiological responses to heat stress compared to temperature alone, and was estimated throughout pregnancy at residential addresses. Depressive symptoms at 12 months postpartum were assessed using the Cen

SUBMITTER: Hu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12818964 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature