Table 3.
Path analysis results of the association between maternal exposure to stressful life events prior to conception and offspring overall health, special health care needs, and severe health conditions in early childhood through very low birthweight
| Fair or Poor Health | Special Health Care Needs | Severe Health Conditions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| β | 95% CI | β | 95% CI | β | 95% CI | |
| Direct Effects | ||||||
| From PSLEs to VLBW | 0.55% | (0.23, 0.87) | 0.55% | (0.23, 0.87) | 0.55% | (0.23, 0.87) |
| From PSLEs to CH at 9 mo | −0.81% | (−1.75, 0.14) | −0.98% | (−2.86, 0.90) | 1.03% | (−1.27, 3.34) |
| From PSLEs to CH at 24 mo | 0.56% | (−0.48, 1.60) | −0.44% | (−3.34, 2.45) | 1.99% | (−0.75, 4.73) |
| From VLBW to CH at 9 mo | 5.33% | (2.97, 7.69) | 26.53% | (22.53, 30.53) | 8.92% | (5.91, 11.92) |
| From VLBW to CH at 24 mo | 4.10% | (2.01, 6.19) | 21.50% | (17.50, 25.51) | 9.04% | (5.96, 12.12) |
| From CH at 9 mo to CH at 24 mo | 13.19% | (5.96, 20.42) | 28.25% | (22.40, 34.10) | 20.55% | (15.68, 25.42) |
|
| ||||||
| Indirect Effectsa | ||||||
| PSLEs --> VLBW --> CH at 9 mo | 0.03% | (0.01, 0.05) | 0.15% | (0.06, 0.24) | 0.05% | (0.01, 0.08) |
| PSLEs --> CH at 24 mo | −0.08% | (−0.22, 0.06) | −0.12% | (−0.69, 0.46) | 0.27% | (−0.21, 0.75) |
| PSLEs --> CH at 9 mo --> CH at 24 mo | −0.11% | (−0.25, 0.04) | −0.28% | (−0.82, 0.26) | 0.21% | (−0.27, 0.70) |
| PSLEs --> VLBW --> CH at 24 mo | 0.02% | (0.01, 0.04) | 0.12% | (0.04, 0.20) | 0.05% | (0.02, 0.08) |
| PSLEs --> VLBW --> CH at 9 mo --> CH at 24 mo | 0.01% | (0.00, 0.01) | 0.04% | (0.02, 0.07) | 0.01% | (0.00, 0.02) |
|
| ||||||
| Model Fit Statistics | ||||||
| Chi-square statistic & p-value | 14.3 | 0.11 | 15.9 | 0.11 | 11.2 | 0.26 |
| CFI | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.997 | |||
| RMSEA | 0.009 | 0.011 | 0.006 | |||
N=6,900. Weighted estimates. Beta coefficients reported as the percent change in the probability of having each child health outcome for a one-unit change in each independent variable. Models adjust for pregnancy complications, maternal chronic conditions, prepregnancy body mass index, initiation of prenatal care, plurality, parity, exposure to any stressful life event during pregnancy, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal age, marital status at birth, health insurance coverage, family socioeconomic status, and US region of residence (see Figure 1).
Specific indirect effects are listed below the total indirect effects, which are in bold. CI, confidence interval; PSLEs, stressful life events prior to conception; VLBW, very low birthweight; CH, child health; CFI, comparative fit index; RMSEA, root mean square error of approximation.