By JANET FONTANA

The Impact of Maternal Stress on Infants

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have recently given us even more reason to take the effects of stress seriously. According to the newest results of a longitudinal population study, girls who are born into families with high levels of stress are more likely to suffer from anxiety and disruptions in brain function as teenagers.

The study, published in the journal of Nature Neuroscience on Monday, found that a high level of maternal stress in a female’s first year of life is linked to hormonal changes later in childhood that lead to abnormal brain connectivity and signs of anxiety and depression at age 18. Teenage girls whose mothers reported high levels of family stress when the girls were babies show reduced connections between the amygdala, the “threat center” of the brain, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation.

The higher general levels of stress that the mothers reported include marital problems, symptoms of depression, parenting frustration, feeling overwhelmed in their role as a parent, and financial pressures. The researchers found a stronger connection between the teenagers’ anxiety symptoms and their childhood stress than with the stress in their current lives. The young men in the study did not show any of these patterns.

Back in 2002 a study of this sample found that, as four-year-olds, these girls also showed higher levels of cortisol in their saliva, which is thought to demonstrate the stress the children experienced. These high cortisol levels correlated with aggression, impulsivity and other behavioral problems when the children were observed two years later.

A large number of previous studies have also shown that stress early in life is a risk factor for many emotional and physical problems later in life, including mood disorders, substance abuse, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. The new research reinforces the need to reduce the stress children experience early in life. As Marilyn Essex, co-director of the Wisconsin Study of Families and Work, said, “it raises important questions about what we can do to better support young parents and families … We might be able to step in early and show them ways to deal with the stress, to teach them to be more resilient and not develop these symptoms of anxiety or depression.”

For more information on ways to reduce your stress levels, both to promote the mental health of your children and to help yourself, explore our Nurses4Wellness Community or feel free to contact us.

By JANET FONTANA

When Times Get Tough

I must admit that it is so much easier for me to have a positive attitude when life is going well. But boy, can it be a slippery slope when things get tough! Over the past few months, I have been paying more attention to the way that I react when disappointments come up.

My friend, Jen, has been an inspiration when it comes to reminding me to stay in a place of abundance rather than scarcity. Jen is one of two friends who have experienced a reduction in their contract work, which of course means less money coming in.

The other woman is reacting to the changes with fear and a sense of scarcity. In contrast, Jen is doing her best to stay in a place of abundance.

What does that mean? Well, she is genuinely happy when she hears of others’ successes and remains positive that her situation will soon improve. She believes that there is enough work to go around, and she shares opportunities that she hears about. She looks at this time as a chance to create new ventures, strengthen relationships and to grow in a way that she may not have been able to on the path that she was on.

Before I go on, I just want to clarify one thing … holding yourself in a place of abundance does not mean that you toss your problems up to the universe and expect everything will take care of itself. Of course, you need to take responsibility for your situation and take active steps to create a better future.

Sure, Jen admits to holding some fear at times (as do I), but she quickly notices that this fear creates tightness in her physical body and more worry in her mind – worry that does not serve her well. Fear and worry sap your energy and creativity and make it less likely that you will learn and grow from these challenging times and get to the other side in a better place. Watching Jen respond to changes in her life situation has reminded me to use the strategies that I know will help me too.

We all need reminders of ways to help ourselves deal with stressful times and keep from sliding down the slippery slope of scarcity.

Here is what helps me snap out of a mindset of scarcity and feel more abundant:

1. Focus on what I do have in my life to feel grateful for

2. Look for ways that the “negative” changes may open up the possibility of something new and perhaps better

3. Breathe deeply and visualize light moving into the tightness in my body

4. Keep moving – walk, go to spin classes, practice yoga, play tennis

5. Spend time with family and good friends, especially people who make me laugh and feel good about myself. Jen is definitely one of these friends!

6. Stay in the moment – practice mindfulness

7. Spend time outside – in nature if possible

8. Eat well – now is not the time to fuel my body with junk food or skip meals

9. Do things that I enjoy to bring more fun and laughter into my life

10. Get enough sleep – we work out stress during our sleep; plus everything seems more manageable after a good night’s sleep.

Many years ago a wise friend shared a wonderful affirmation with me and you may find helpful too:

“An avalanche of abundance flows to me everyday and in everyway.”

See it, believe it. It will be!

All the best to you!

By JANET FONTANA

What Nurses Should Know About Smoking Cessation and Seasonality

Did you know that contrary to popular belief, cigarette sales in the U.S.peak during the summer months? While there have only been a few studies focusing on the influence of seasonality on smoking behavior, research suggests that there are “several factors contributing to the effect of seasonality on cigarette consumption” including weather conditions, summer vacation, timing of cessation efforts, and smoking restriction laws. Taking all these factors into consideration, it’s easy to speculate why, in fact, the summer months typically generate the highest in overall tobacco sales.

According to findings obtained by the Tobacco Surveillance and Evolution Research Program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s School of Public Health, seasonality significantly influences tobacco sales during certain times of the year.  June is the month with the highest cigarette sales and February has the lowest.  Summer cigarette sales indicate an overall increase in smoking consumption between the months of June-August.

As nurses, we know that timing is everything when it comes to helping our patients get motivated to make healthy lifestyle changes.  In addition to a person’s readiness to change, it’s important to consider how other factors including seasonality can affect a person’s smoking behavior.

Knowing the relationship between the time of year and smoking behavior will help you develop smoking cessation initiatives that will maximize your patient’s chance for success.  While the summer may be a particularly challenging time to reach long-term smoking cessation goals, it is always important to start the conversation and offer your support and encouragement.

Take into consideration the individual’s stage of change and follow evidence-based strategies.  By using the 5 A intervention model (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange), you can increase the likelihood of successful long-term smoking cessation.

Quitting a bad habit is never easy.  As nurses we can assess a patient’s stage of change and evaluate external factors such as seasonality that will affect the probability of quitting smoking.  By providing non-judgmental advice and encouragement, we can help make the challenge of quitting smoking easier to overcome.

For more information on stages of change, motivational interviewing and the 5 A intervention model, watch Dennis Mahoney’s nursing CE webinar “Smoking Cessation: Assessment & Plan Development.”  Upon completion of the program, you will receive your nursing CE certificate for one contact hour.  No post-test is required.