Depression and negative life events among pregnant African-American and Hispanic women.
Depression, social support, and life events were assessed in a sample of African-American and Hispanic women (N = 148) with uncomplicated pregnancies. Over half (51%) showed elevated depressive symptoms. Overall, women had fewer social supports and more negative life events than found in previous studies. African-Americans had more practical social support and persons in their support networks than Hispanics. Over a third of the sample (37%) had lost an important person in the past year. Depressed women reported more negative events than nondepressed women. Many negative life events and few social supports place minority women at risk for prenatal depression.
Zayas
Luis H
LH
Center for Hispanic Mental Health Research, Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, New York, New York, USA.
Cunningham
Maddy
M
McKee
M Diane
MD
Jankowski
Katherine R B
KR
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D014505:Urban Population