0122 Development and Initial Validation of the Danieli-Arizona Border Intergenerational Transmission of Stress Scale

Abstract Introduction Intergenerational transmission of stress is an underrecognized potential contributor to sleep and mental health disparities among at-risk populations. No existing tool captures this construct as experienced at the US-Mexico Border. Methods The DABITSS was originally developed based on the Danieli Inventory of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma developed for families of Holocaust survivors and was adapted to the border region through a series of focus groups. The end result is a scale in both English and Spanish that consists of 3 subscales: Parents (46 items, parental behaviors indicating transmission of stress), Adaptations (25 items, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that represent internalization of stress), and Experiences (35 items, events that may induce intergenerational stress). Total scores for the Parents and Adaptations subscales range from 0-100, for a total score of 0-200. The Experiences scale ranges from 0-35. Scale and total scores were evaluated relative to insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index), depression (PHQ9 scale), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs questionnaire). Models were adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity (Mexican or White), survey language (English or Spanish), immigrant status, and acculturation. Results DABITS scores on the Parents subscale ranged from 0.54-63.98 (M=28.99, SD=15.31); scores on the Adaptations subscale ranged from 5-65 (M=33.90, SD=14.51); scores on the Experiences subscale ranged from 0-20 (M=5.11, SD=3.57), and total scores [(Parents+Adaptations)/2] ranged from 10.54-123.06 (M=62.89, SD=26.27). Insomnia severity was associated with Parents (B=0.85, 95%CI [0.10, 1.60]), Adaptations (B=1.16, 95%CI [0.50,1.81]), and total score (B=2.01, 95%CI [0.76,3.25]). Depression was associated with Parents (B=1.09, 95%CI [0.25,1.93]), Adaptations (B=1.29, 95%CI [0.55,2.02]), Experiences (B=0.25, 95%CI [0.06,0.45]), and total score (B=2.38, 95%CI [0.99,3.77]). ACEs score was associated with Parents (B=2.91, 95%CI [1.15,4.67]), Adaptations (B=1.87, 95%CI [0.24,3.51]), Experiences (B=0.99, 95%CI [0.61,1.36]), and total score (B=4.79, 95%CI [1.78, 7.79]). Additional analyses are planned for other sleep (duration, quality, disorders, sleepiness) and mental health (anxiety, stress) measures. Conclusion The DABITSS scale represents multiple dimensions of intergenerational stress (how it was passed on, how it is experienced, and what may have triggered it). These dimensions are related to sleep and mental health. Support (if any) R01MD011600