Adverse childhood experiences, help-seeking, and perinatal depression in Asian immigrant mothers in California

A passion project by Abigale Mullarney

What are adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)?

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that one experiences before the age of 18. They can include household dysfunction, abuse, and neglect. ACEs can be identified using the ACE score questionnaire. ACEs, especially higher scores, are strongly correlated with long-term stress into adulthood that leads to later physical, mental, and behavioral health issues (chronic diseases, depression, stress disorders, substance abuse, etc).

(Source: Center for Disease Control)

Types of ACEs (image from WisTech Open)

Image from Groundwork Therapy Brooklyn

What is perinatal depression (PND)?

Perinatal depression is clinical depression during pregnancy or after childbirth, and is a serious medical illness and public health concern. Perinatal depression affects 1 in 7 women, and is the leading cause of preventable maternal death by suicide. If left untreated, it can impact the mother's health and the child's development. There is no singular cause of perinatal depression, but adverse childhood experiences and a lack of social support are found to be strong predictors of developing perinatal depression (Racine et al. 2020).

(Source: National Institute of Mental Health)

Why does this research matter?

There is very little maternal mental health research focused specifically on Asian immigrant mothers. Cultural stigma, combined with the"model minority" stereotype for Asians (where they are perceived to have fewer mental health problems), generates many cultural barriers that prevent Asian mothers from getting the help they need. Researching how trauma, culture, immigration, and maternal mental health intersect can help better inform healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities to support mothers before problems evolve into long-term crises that have generational impacts on a family.

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