Correlates of depressive symptoms in mothers of preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors related to depressive symptoms in mothers of preterm infants and to changes in depressive symptoms between hospitalization and when the infant was six months corrected age and to determine whether these factors differentiate mothers at high risk for depression from mothers at low risk for depression.


METHODS
Correlational.


METHODS
During hospitalization, 39 mothers of preterm infants and, at six months corrected infant age, 34 mothers of preterm infants.


METHODS
Depressive symptoms as measured on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale.


RESULTS
At enrollment, 19 mothers (48.7 percent) had elevated depressive symptom scores. When the infants were six months corrected age, mean scores had decreased by 36 percent, and only 20 percent of the mothers had elevated scores. During hospitalization, the correlates of depressive symptoms were similar to the factors that differentiated between mothers at high risk and those at low risk for depression. However, the correlates of depressive symptoms during hospitalization were different from correlates of changes in depressive symptoms between hospitalization and six months corrected infant age. Identifying correlates of maternal depressive symptoms may lead to earlier identification and treatment of women at risk for depression, thereby decreasing the negative effects on infant development.
CARElina Medical Associates, Department of Neonatology, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Andea Morawski
AM
Mew
Diane
D
Holditch-Davis
Michael
M
Belyea
Margaret Shandor
MS
Miles
Anne
A
Fishel
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors