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  • Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Development and Mental Health in a North American Preconception Cohort Study: 2013–2023
Title: Residential Proximity to Oil and Gas Development and Mental Health in a North American Preconception Cohort Study: 2013–2023
Objectives. To evaluate associations between oil and gas development (OGD) and mental health using cross-sectional data from a preconception cohort study, Pregnancy Study Online. Methods. We analyzed baseline data from a prospective cohort of US and Canadian women aged 21 to 45 years who were attempting conception without fertility treatment (2013–2023). We developed residential proximity measures for active OGD during preconception, including distance from nearest site. At baseline, participants completed validated scales for perceived stress (10-item Perceived Stress Scale, PSS) and depressive symptoms (Major Depression Inventory, MDI) and reported psychotropic medication use. We used log-binomial regression and restricted cubic splines to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results. Among 5725 participants across 37 states and provinces, residence at 2 km versus 20 to 50 km of active OGD was associated with moderate to high perceived stress (PSS ≥ 20 vs < 20: PR = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.98, 1.18), moderate to severe depressive symptoms (MDI ≥ 20 vs < 20: PR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.11, 1.45), and psychotropic medication use (PR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.97, 1.28). Conclusions. Among North American pregnancy planners, closer proximity to OGD was associated with adverse preconception mental health symptomatology. ( Am J Public Health. 2024;114(9):923–934. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307730 )  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1914792
PAR ID:
10548479
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
American Public Health Association
Date Published:
Journal Name:
American Journal of Public Health
Volume:
114
Issue:
9
ISSN:
0090-0036
Page Range / eLocation ID:
923 to 934
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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