title: Postpartum depression and social support in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a social support intervention delivered to pregnant adolescent girls between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation in preventing symptoms of depression at 6 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a repeated measures design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected at a teenage parenting program, an educational option of the public school system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 128) were pregnant and postpartum adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Symptoms of depression at 6 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the Postpartum Support Questionnaire, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem instrument, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression instrument at baseline, then were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups (pamphlet, video, or pamphlet plus video) or the control group. The content of the intervention was based on a synthesis of the literature describing social support needed and desired by postpartum adolescents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found in Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression instrument scores among the groups at 6 weeks postpartum. Using path analysis, the authors found that predictors of symptoms of depression at 6 weeks postpartum were (a) receiving more support from friends, family, and others and (b) having low self-esteem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings differ from earlier studies, and both research and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing at the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. mclogs@aol.com
authors.forename: M Cynthia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Logsdon
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Birkimer
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Looney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires