Correlates of mothers' persistent depressive symptoms: a national study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, persistence, and correlates of mothers' depressive symptoms over a 5-year period in a nationally representative sample of the United States population.


METHODS
Data from 2235 mothers in the National Survey of Families and Households, Wave I, 1987-1988, and Wave II, 1992-1994, were analyzed. Outcome measures were scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D, 12-item version) and a validated three-item depression screen.


RESULTS
One fifth of study mothers had positive CES-D scores and almost half (48%) had negative CES-D scores in both waves. Wave I risk factors for persistent "positive" CES-D scores were maternal age less than 30 years (24%), African-American (33%), never married (26%) or divorced (32%), education less than high school (35%), and indigent (32%). Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals for persistent "positive" versus persistent "negative" CES-D scores were: age less than 30 years (Wave I), AOR = 1.64, (1.22-2.21); unmarried (Wave II), AOR = 2.60, (1.89-3.56); education less than high school (Wave II), AOR = 2.18, (1.41-3.38); and indigent (Wave II), AOR = 2.09 (1.36-3.21).


CONCLUSIONS
About one fifth of the study sample reported high depressive symptoms twice over a 5-year period. Depression in women, especially mothers, is an urgent public health problem.
Pascoe
John M
JM
Department of Pediatrics, Wright State University School of Medicine, Children's Medical Center, One Children's Plaza, Dayton, OH 45404, USA. john.pascoe@wright.edu
Stolfi
Adrienne
A
Ormond
Mary B
MB
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening; D008423:Maternal Age; D008489:Medical Indigency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data