Crusto Cindy A, Barcelona de Mendoza Veronica, Connell Christian M, Sun Yan V, Taylor Jacquelyn Y
Cindy A. Crusto, PhD, is Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Department of Psychology, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza, PhD, MSN, RN, APHN-BC, is Post-Doctoral Associate, Yale School of Nursing, Orange, Connecticut. Christian M. Connell, PhD, is Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Yan V. Sun, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia. Jacquelyn Y. Taylor, PhD, PNP-BC, RN, FAHA, FAAN, is Associate Professor, Yale School of Nursing, Orange, Connecticut.
Nurs Res. 2016 Jul-Aug;65(4):331-8. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000163.
Although studies show that genomics and environmental stressors affect blood pressure, few studies have examined their combined effects, especially in African Americans.
We present the recruitment methods and psychological measures of the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure (InterGEN) study, which seeks to investigate the individual and combined effects of genetic (G) and environmental (E) (psychological) stressors on blood pressure in African American mother-child dyads. Genetic methods are presented elsewhere, but here we present the recruitment methods, psychological measures, and analysis plan for these environmental stressors.
This longitudinal study will enroll 250 mother-child dyads (N = 500). Study participation is restricted to women who (a) are ≤21 years of age, (b) self-identify as African American or Black, (c) speak English, (d) do not have an identified mental illness or cognitive impairment, and (e) have a biological child between 3 and 5 years old. The primary environmental stressors assessed are parenting stress, perceived racism and discrimination, and maternal mental health. Covariates include age, cigarette smoking (for mothers), and gender (for children). The study outcome variables are systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
The main analytic outcome is genetic-by-environment interaction analyses (G × E); however, main effects (G) and (E) will be individually assessed first. Genetic (G) and interaction analyses (G × E) are described in a companion paper and will include laboratory procedures. Statistical modeling of environmental stressors on blood pressure will be done using descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equation models.
The methodology presented here includes the study rationale, community engagement and recruitment protocol, psychological variable measurement, and analysis plan for assessing the association of environmental stressors and blood pressure. This study may provide the foundation for other studies and development of interventions to reduce the risk for hypertension and to propose targeted health promotion programs for this high-risk population.
尽管研究表明基因组学和环境应激源会影响血压，但很少有研究考察它们的综合影响，尤其是在非裔美国人中。
我们介绍了遗传和心理因素对血压的代际影响（InterGEN）研究的招募方法和心理测量方法，该研究旨在调查遗传（G）和环境（E）（心理）应激源对非裔美国母婴二元组血压的个体和综合影响。遗传方法在其他地方介绍，但这里我们介绍这些环境应激源的招募方法、心理测量方法和分析计划。
这项纵向研究将招募250个母婴二元组（N = 500）。研究参与仅限于符合以下条件的女性：（a）年龄≤21岁，（b）自我认定为非裔美国人或黑人，（c）说英语，（d）没有确诊的精神疾病或认知障碍，（e）有一个3至5岁的亲生孩子。评估的主要环境应激源是育儿压力、感知到的种族主义和歧视以及母亲的心理健康。协变量包括年龄、吸烟情况（针对母亲）和性别（针对孩子）。研究结果变量是收缩压和舒张压。
主要分析结果是基因与环境相互作用分析（G×E）；然而，首先将分别评估主效应（G）和（E）。遗传（G）和相互作用分析（G×E）在一篇配套论文中描述，将包括实验室程序。将使用描述性统计和广义估计方程模型对环境应激源与血压进行统计建模。
这里介绍的方法包括研究原理、社区参与和招募方案、心理变量测量以及评估环境应激源与血压关联的分析计划。这项研究可能为其他研究以及开发降低高血压风险的干预措施和为这一高危人群提出有针对性的健康促进计划提供基础。
