American Women Research Articles

Self-Reported Physical Activity in Chinese American Immigrants With a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an elevated risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Chinese American immigrants are disproportionately affected by GDM, yet their cardiometabolic risk factors are understudied. Little is known about physical activity (PA) of this understudied high-risk minority group. The purpose of this study was to describe self-reported PA and the facilitators of and barriers to PA in Chinese American immigrants with a history of GDM. We conducted an exploratory multimethod study between 2020 and 2021 among 106 Chinese American immigrant women. PA was self-reported using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long form. Four domains of PA (work, transportation, housework, and leisure time) and daily sitting time were recorded. Open-ended questions were asked about the facilitators of and barriers to PA. Participants' mean age was 34.3 ± 3.7 years, and body mass index was 21.7 ± 2.6 kg/m 2 . Approximately 25% had low PA. Over half (N = 56, 53%) reported no leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous PA. Walking and housework were the most common types of PA. Barriers to PA included being busy with life, physical health issues (eg, sleep and postpartum health issues), low motivation or not enjoying PA, COVID-related barriers, and an unfavorable environment for PA. Strategies are needed to increase leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous PA in this population. Modifiable factors include providing convenient PA programs (eg, technology or home-based) and addressing postpartum health issues (eg, sleep). Increasing providers' awareness of barriers to PA and cardiometabolic disease risk in this hard-to-reach, high-risk group may improve assessment and referral for high-risk women. Future research is needed to further explore opportunities for PA that Chinese American immigrant women would be open to at this stage in their life.

Healthy Lifestyle Index and Breast Cancer Risk among Postmenopausal Women: The Multiethnic Cohort Study.

Consistent evidence supports a reduction in breast cancer risk with a high healthy lifestyle index (HLI) score; however, this relationship has not been well studied in multiethnic populations. Within the Multiethnic Cohort study, we followed 65,561 African American, Japanese American, Latina, Native Hawaiian, and White postmenopausal women for incident invasive breast cancer (n=4,555, mean 19.2 years). The HLI summed seven components with higher scores assigned to healthier behaviors: diet quality, physical activity, sedentary behavior, smoking status, alcohol consumption, body mass index and sleep duration. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between the HLI score (continuous, tertiles (T)) and breast cancer risk overall and stratified by race and ethnicity and hormone receptor status. Multiplicative interaction by race and ethnicity (P-int) and heterogeneity of effect by hormone receptor status (P-het) assessed by the Wald test. Higher HLI scores were associated with reduced postmenopausal breast cancer risk (aHRcont:0.95 [95% CI:0.94-0.97], P<0.0001; aHRT2vsT1:0.92 [95% CI:0.85-0.99], aHRT3vsT1: 0.81 [95% CI:0.75-0.87], P-trend<0.01) with similar risk reductions observed across racial and ethnic groups (P-trend≤0.05; P-int=0.96). Similar findings were observed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (overall: P-trend<0.01; P-int=0.90); no significant associations were observed with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer (P-trend >0.05; P-int=0.64; P-het=0.79). Higher HLI scores are associated with breast cancer risk reductions overall, by race and ethnicity and hormone receptor status. Engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors may reduce breast cancer risk among a multiethnic population of postmenopausal women.

A Narrative Inquiry of Relational Conflict Navigation for East Asian American Women

A Narrative Inquiry of Relational Conflict Navigation for East Asian American Women

American Indian women’s perceptions of perinatal cannabis use

ABSTRACT Background: Cannabis use during pregnancy continues to rise, yet research examining cannabis use in perinatal American Indian women is lacking. Structural injustices have led to health inequities for American Indian people, including higher prevalence of past-month cannabis use and lower prevalence of receiving mental health treatment, compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Objective: To describe perceptions of risks and benefits of perinatal cannabis use in a sample of American Indian perinatal women who report regularly using cannabis while pregnant. Method: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 10 American Indian perinatal women who reported using cannabis at least weekly while pregnant or postpartum. Participants were from three states where cannabis use is legal for adults (Washington, Oregon, and California). Themes were generated from implicit and explicit participant responses and principles of Indigenous research frameworks were utilized. Results: Four themes were derived from the data: 1) Perinatal cannabis use as better than other substances, 2) Medicinal use and perceived therapeutic effects of prenatal cannabis, 3) Unsure if cannabis use while breastfeeding impacts the baby, and 4) Minimal responses from healthcare providers perceived as approval. Conclusions: Cannabis was used for health-related issues and was perceived to be a safer option for than use of methamphetamine, heroin, alcohol, and prescription pharmaceuticals. With a focus on other substance use issues within participants’ communities, minimal discussion about cannabis use by healthcare providers was perceived as endorsement of use, highlighting the need for additional training for healthcare providers.

The Lived Experiences of Maternal Health Racism Among African American Women: A Scoping Review.

The purpose of this scoping review is to consolidate existing scholarly literature on the experiences of racism in maternal health by African American women. Maternal health disparities among African American women are linked to systemic racism and resulting in alarming rates of adverse maternal disparities. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodological approach, a literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for empirical studies published between 2013 and 2023. The search was limited to the experience of racism among African American women during the perinatal period. Ten studies describing Black/African American women's experiences with systemic, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized racism in maternal healthcare settings were identified. All studies included in the final review were qualitative. Poor provider communication and listening were highlighted as the major contributors to maternal health disparities. While mental health support, social support, and community-based interventions such as doula and midwife services have demonstrated improved outcomes, their broader impact remains understudied and unavailable to many women. This review revealed (1) a lack of longitudinal research focused on dismantling racism at the institutional leadership level, (2) the absence of long-term evaluations of systemic interventions, and (3) a limited focus on garnering a deeper understanding of mental health impacts. By aggregating the findings from diverse studies, this review aims to contribute to future research to influence research, policy changes, and clinical practices that eliminate maternal health disparities.

Perceived Discrimination, Trauma, Mental Health, and Blood Pressure Outcomes Among Young African American/Black Mothers in the InterGEN Study.

African American (AA) women are disproportionately affected by hypertension. Discrimination, which can be traumatic, and depressive symptoms are independently associated with blood pressure (BP). We assessed whether the combined influence of discrimination and race-related trauma and depressive symptoms influenced BP over time. We conducted a secondary data analysis of data from a longitudinal cohort study examining factors associated with BP in 250 AA/Black mother-child dyads. Eligible participants were AA/Black mothers, 21 years and older, with a biological child aged 3-5 years. Clinical (BP, body mass index) and psychosocial measures (racial discrimination, major discrimination, race-related stress, depressive symptoms) were examined. Principal component analysis and linear regression were completed to assess the associations of discrimination, race-related trauma, and depressive symptoms with maternal BP. Data from 183 participants were analyzed. Principal component analysis identified 2 key components: overall discrimination and race-related trauma (principal component 1) and depressive symptoms (principal component 2), which explained 83% of data variation. Linear regression analyses revealed principal component 1 was associated with changes in systolic BP (b = 0.92; P = .04), whereas principal component 2 was not (b = 0.31; P = .71). Our findings highlight the need to further explore experiences of discrimination and race-related trauma as a contributing factor for hypertension. In addition, building on existing efforts, future studies should further analyze the presentation of depressive symptoms among AA women to inform the development and validation of culturally sensitive screening tools that effectively capture these symptoms and enhance access to care.

Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Hospital Care Survey 2020.

Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Hospital Care Survey 2020.

Recent Trends in Breast Cancer Mortality Rates for U.S. Women by Age and Race/Ethnicity.

To analyze recent trends in U.S. breast cancer mortality rates by age group and race and ethnicity. This retrospective analysis of female breast cancer mortality rates used National Center for Health Statistics data from 1990 to 2022 for all women, by age group, and by race or ethnicity. Joinpoint analysis assessed trends in breast cancer mortality rates. Breast cancer mortality rates for women 20 to 39 years old decreased 2.8% per year from 1999 to 2010 but showed no decline from 2010 to 2022 (annual percentage change [APC], -0.01; P = .98). For women of ages 40 to 74 years, breast cancer mortality rates decreased 1.7% to 3.9% per year from 1990 to 2022 (P <.001); a decline was found for all cohorts in this age group except Asian women. For women ≥75 years of age, breast cancer mortality rates declined significantly from 1993 to 2013 (APC, -1.26; P = .01) but showed no evidence of decline from 2013 to 2022 (APC, -0.2; P = .24). Across all ages, breast cancer mortality rates declined for White and Black women but not for Asian, Hispanic, and Native American women. Asian women ≥75 years of age had significantly increasing mortality rates (APC, 0.73; P <.001). For 2004 to 2022, breast cancer mortality rates were 39% higher in Black women than White women and varied strongly by age group: 104% for ages 20 to 39 years, 51% for ages 40 to 74 years, and 13% for ages ≥75 years. Female breast cancer mortality rates have stopped declining in women <40 years of age and >74 years of age. The higher mortality rates in Black women compared with White women are age dependent and substantially higher in younger women.

Examining the Influence of Food Insecurity on Perinatal Health Outcomes Among Black Birthing Individuals in the U.S.: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Food insecurity disproportionately affects Black households in the United States (US) and is linked to adverse perinatal health outcomes. Addressing food insecurity is crucial for improving maternal and infant health outcomes, especially among Black mothers. This scoping review explores the impact of food insecurity and low food access (i.e., food deserts) on various maternal health outcomes during the perinatal period among Black women. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews, literature searches were conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases from January 2013 to January 2023. Eligible studies focused on Black women in the US experiencing food insecurity and reporting maternal health outcomes. Of 154 initially identified studies, nine met the inclusion criteria. Findings reveal diverse associations between food insecurity and perinatal outcomes among Black women, including gestational diabetes, breastfeeding practices, and maternal anemia. While some studies demonstrated direct links, others explored stressors associated with food insecurity during pregnancy. The current literature suggests that food insecurity exacerbates health disparities among Black birthing individuals, contributing to adverse perinatal health outcomes. Addressing food insecurity is crucial for improving maternal health equity. It is recommended that food insecurity screening and tailored support services be integrated into prenatal care services. To promote health equity, public health policies should prioritize interventions targeting food insecurity among Black birthing individuals and communities. Collaborative efforts between legislators, providers, educators, researchers, and communities are needed to implement comprehensive interventions addressing the systemic inequities from which food insecurity stems, to achieve health and nutritional equity for all birthing individuals.

Feminism: “WAR” and “JOURNEY” Metaphors in Ms. and Bust Magazines

As an important medium to spread feminist ideas, magazines have attracted attention in their presentation of feminism. Metaphor analysis helps to understand the public’s cognition and attitude towards social issues, and reveals the role of metaphor in influencing thinking and decision-making. Based on conceptual metaphor theory and using corpus analysis, this paper focuses on feminism-related metaphors in the American magazines Ms. and Bust. Metaphor analysis was conducted for 1,098 articles with 1,664,733 words published from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal that the “WAR” metaphor and “JOURNEY” metaphor were the top two metaphors related to feminism, yet they encode distinct ideological priorities. The “WAR” metaphor emphasized the plight and struggle women face in opposing gender discrimination and fighting for equal pay and other equal rights, lexicalized through terms like “campaign,” “fight,” and “attacks.” The metaphor of “JOURNEY” highlighted the continuity and development of the feminist movement in the pursuit of political participation and educational equality, lexicalized through terms like “progress,” “ways,” and “course.” This study contributes to existing literature by uncovering the metaphorical patterns of feminism in the American women’s magazines and providing novel perspectives on the understanding of American feminist movement, as well as a useful reference for related research and gender equality practice.

Examining Family Violence and Reproductive Autonomy Among Arab American Women.

Background: Women who experience violence from an intimate partner are at risk of experiencing lower levels of reproductive autonomy. Among Arab American women, cases of intimate partner violence may also involve other family members, including in-laws or natal family, a phenomenon also known as family violence. This study examined the role of family violence on reproductive autonomy among Arab American women. Methods: Data were collected from a convenience sample (N = 99) of self-identified Arab American women between 18 and 65 years in Dearborn, Michigan, through a cross-sectional survey of self-reported experiences with family violence and reproductive autonomy. Analyses included univariate statistics on sociodemographic characteristics and prevalence of family violence, a psychometric analysis of a multidimensional scale of reproductive autonomy, and adjusted linear regressions to assess how sociodemographic characteristics and family violence were associated with reproductive autonomy. Results: Nearly 60% of the sample had ever experienced family violence. Among women who had ever had sex (N = 74), higher educational attainment was positively associated with communication and freedom from coercion, and receipt of public assistance was negatively associated with communication. Several types of family violence were negatively associated with the communication and freedom from coercion subscales from the reproductive autonomy measure. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that sociodemographic factors and family violence are both associated with reproductive autonomy among Arab American women. More research is needed to address family violence and reproductive autonomy in this community and examine how these experiences shape the reproductive health of Arab American women.

Maternal Depressive Symptomology and Small-for-Gestational-Age: Do Coping Efforts Moderate the Relationship?

Evidence regarding the impact of prenatal depression and other psychosocial factors, such as coping, on perinatal outcomes is limited. We examined whether depressive symptoms during pregnancy were associated with the rate of having a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant and whether women's coping styles modified the relationship. Data were obtained from a cohort of 1410 Black/African American women in Metropolitan Detroit, MI, using a structured maternal interview and medical record abstraction. Depressive symptomology was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Women's coping efforts (confronting, distancing, and internalizing) were assessed using the Ways of Coping (WOC) questionnaire. Modified-Poisson regression models assessed direct and moderated associations. About 20% of women had severe depressive symptoms (CES-D > 23). Severe depressive symptoms were associated with having an SGA infant (adjusted PR [aPR] = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.02-1.89). Among women who frequently utilized confrontive coping efforts, severe depressive symptoms were marginally associated with SGA (PR = 1.43, 95% CI = 0.98-2.09), but not among women using confrontive coping less frequently. Regarding distance coping, severe depressive symptoms were not associated with SGA among women who frequently used distancing. However, severe depressive symptoms were associated with SGA (PR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.03-2.24) among women who use distancing coping less frequently. /Implications. Our findings suggest the use of confrontive and distancing coping moderates the relationship between depressive symptoms and SGA. In addition to screening for depressive symptomology during pregnancy, clinicians may want to assess coping styles as they drive women's response to stress and may be amenable to intervention.

Association between relative fat mass and sterility in women of reproductive age in the United States: results from the 2013-2018 NHANES.

A major problem that affects women of reproductive age globally is sterility. A new statistic called Relative Fat Mass (RFM) provides an accurate representation of the percentage of total body fat in people. This study aims to investigate the relationship between RFM and sterility in fertility-age American women. This study employed a cross-sectional design using data collected from NHANES between 2013 and 2018. The association between RFM and sterility was investigated using logistic regression analysis, controlling for a number of variables. The results were more resilient when RFM was transformed into a four-category variable in order to further examine the patterns of the association between different RFM levels and sterility. The dose-response association between RFM and sterility was illustrated using restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also conducted to assess the robustness and consistency of the results. This study included 3,197 women aged 18-45, consisting of 2,854 non-sterile participants and 343 sterile participants. First, in the fully adjusted model, RFM and the prevalence of sterility had a positive correlation (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.09). When converting RFM from a continuous to a categorical variable, the prevalence of sterility was significantly greater in the highest quartile than in the lowest quartile (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.40-4.82). Furthermore, RFM and sterility prevalence were found to be positively linearly correlated by RCS analysis, with sterility rates sharply increasing as RFM levels rose. The positive correlation between RFM and the frequency of sterility was shown to be constant throughout various populations, according to subgroup analysis across stratified parameters. Finally, sensitivity analysis further confirmed the reliability and consistency of the study's findings. A representative sample of American women of reproductive age showed a positively correlation between RFM and the prevalence of sterility. RFM may help identify women at risk for sterility, and waist circumference management could potentially help lower the risk of sterility.

Resisting the Romanticized Colonial Portrayal of Native American Women in Monique Mojica's Play Princess Pocahontas and the Blue Spots

This paper examines the romanticized portrayals of Native American women in colonial narratives and highlights how Monique Mojica’s play Princess Pocahontas and the Blue Spots resists these colonial images through counternarratives. By reclaiming the voices of iconic Indigenous women such as Pocahontas and La Malinche, this study explores how the play decolonizes feminine stories and challenges the European imagination of Native American women. The method employed in this study involved an analytical approach, drawing on indigenous feminist and postcolonial literary theories to examine Mojica’s depiction of Native American female characters as symbols of resistance and resilience. The findings reveal that Mojica’s play not only critiques the colonial mistreatment of Indigenous women but also promotes cultural healing and solidarity. The study estimates that key moments in the play demonstrate the significance of counter-narratives in reshaping the audience’s understanding of Indigenous women’s histories. Based on these findings, this study recommends further exploration of Indigenous narratives in the literature to continue the process of decolonization and cultural empowerment.

FRANCIS SCOTT FITZGERALD AND ZELDA FITZGERALD – OPPOSING VIEWS ON THE CHARACTER OF THE FLAPPER

The 1920s marked the emergence of the “flapper” – a symbol of rebellion against societal norms epitomizing the newfound independence of American women. Francis Scott Fitzgerald, renowned for chronicling this phenomenon, described flappers in his works as mischievous rebels who opposed the conservative values of the previous generation. However, in addition to being charming, witty, and playful, they were depicted as manipulative materialists who would do anything for wealth and social status. The depiction of flappers in Scott Fitzgerald’s works differs from that of his wife Zelda Fitzgerald – a flapper herself. Through the character of Alabama, Zelda Fitzgerald offers a nuanced account of the flapper’s struggle for autonomy within a patriarchal society. Alabama’s journey reflects Zelda’s own experiences and challenges when confronting traditional gender roles imposed by society. This article explores Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s and Zelda Fitzgerald’s contrasting views on the character of the flapper, exploring how their respective portrayals reflect broader societal attitudes towards women’s roles in the 1920s. An analysis of these works explores the complexities of gender dynamics during this transformative era and sheds light on the enduring legacy of the flapper as an icon of female liberation. Keywords: the flapper; Francis Scott Fitzgerald; Zelda Fitzgerald; opposing views; gender

Changes in weight and physical function for older African American women in Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS): Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Changes in weight and physical function for older African American women in Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS): Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

"Periodical Habits": Native American Women, Movement, and Menstruation in the Eighteenth-Century Southeast

Abstract: This article approaches Native American women's menstruation in the eighteenth-century Southeast by centering women as historical actors. Relying on the movements of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, and Choctaw women, rather than white outsider's descriptions of menstruation, reveals a diversity of Indigenous experiences. Eighteenth-century colonists described Native practices of strict seclusion in menstrual huts. Yet Native American women traveled hundreds of miles away from menstrual huts on a regular basis. These women's movements mean alternate practices of menstrual care existed. Menstrual separation was a set of practices that fit within long-standing Indigenous cultural ideas about the power of gendered blood and specific uses of space during menstruation. Menstrual separation could involve the use of menstrual huts but also included practices of separation that served the many Native women who were members of hunting, war, diplomatic, and intertribal traveling parties throughout the eighteenth century.

One Girl Revolution: The Christian Feminism of Superchick

Since evangelical Christians became a major force in the US consumer marketplace in the 1970s, they have increasingly carved out a space for themselves in the arena of popular culture with their own brand of contemporary Christian music (CCM). This article proposes an analysis of how Christian alternative pop/rock band Superchick uses feminist discourse to promote the feminine adherence to purity and obedience of Christian religious directives. The origin of such a dichotomous relationship between form and substance can be traced to the Christian music industry’s desire to frame Christianity as ‘hip’ and countercultural in contrast to its secular counterpart. Musical forms are appropriated freely without regard for the historical specificities of their genre and added lyrics promoting evangelical Christianity’s values. The article examines how resisting the corrupt pull of secularism is frequently framed as an act of rebellion to win over young and teenaged audiences. I will especially focus on the period of the 1990s and early 2000s, when the so-called evangelical purity movement was popular and influencing the lives and futures of young American women and girls.

Classism and Gendered Racism as Stressors for African American Women

Social class is frequently used as a tool to disregard the effects of racism, attributing racial inequalities to social class differences. These attributions are embedded in color-blind and meritocratic beliefs that dismiss the pervasiveness of racism. Our study addresses this issue by investigating the intersection between classism and gendered racism, and how these two co-constructed systems have an effect on the mental health of African American women ( N = 206). A multivariate multiple regression (MVMR) was performed to examine the effects of classism, gendered racism, and their interaction on psychological outcomes. The interaction of classism and gendered racism was significantly associated to all outcome variables, beyond classism or gendered racism individually. Our findings underscore the importance of adopting a strong intersectional approach to research and measurement, and future research should address African American women’s unique experiences of classist gendered racism.

Skin Tone – a Marker of Bias Known as Colorism – in relation to Sleep Health among African American Women

Skin Tone – a Marker of Bias Known as Colorism – in relation to Sleep Health among African American Women