Effects of acculturation on prenatal anxiety among Latina women

Anxiety in pregnancy has been associated with adverse birth outcomes. Relatively few studies have investigated how acculturation affects mental health in pregnancy among Latinas. The goal of this study was to determine if acculturation was associated with anxiety over the course of pregnancy in a sample of predominantly Puerto Rican women. Women were recruited in pregnancy for participation in Proyecto Buena Salud, a prospective cohort study of Latina women (n?=?1412). Acculturation was measured via the Psychological Acculturation Scale (PAS), language preference and generation in the USA. Anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Instrument. Linear and logistic multivariable regressions were used to investigate associations. After adjustment, women with bicultural identification had significantly lower trait anxiety scores in early pregnancy (β?=??3.62, SE?=?1.1, p?β?=?1.41, SE?=?0.7, p?=?0.04) and second or third generation in the USA had significantly higher trait anxiety scores in early pregnancy (β?=?1.83, SE?=?0.6, p?