Maternal Health, Black Culture, Reproductive Health, Public Health
Experiences of Discrimination and DNA Methylation Among Black Nulliparous Women
Harkins SE, Hazi AK, Zhao T, Reho P, Wu H, Samari G, Wapner R, Zhao Y, Barcelona V
June 26, 2026 at 1:55:52 PM
Abstract
Exposure to racial discrimination is a well-documented risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is hypothesized that this association occurs through epigenetic changes. We conducted an epigenome-wide association study of 897 Black pregnant women who participated in the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be (nuMoM2b) to examine associations between experiences of racial discrimination and DNA methylation. We identified 130 CpG sites significantly associated with high levels of racial discrimination. Fourteen of the 17 mapped genes have disease-associated phenotypes including cancer, cardiomyopathy, ovarian insufficiency, neurodevelopmental disability, and asthma. Future research should include structural racism measures and study epigenetic pathways between racism and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
An epigenome-wide association study of 897 Black pregnant women in the nuMoM2b study examined links between perceived racial discrimination during pregnancy and DNA methylation. Researchers identified 130 CpG sites significantly associated with high levels of racial discrimination, with 14 of the 17 mapped genes tied to disease-associated phenotypes including cancer, cardiomyopathy, ovarian insufficiency, and neurodevelopmental disability. The authors call for inclusion of structural racism measures in future epigenetic research on adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes among Black women.