Depression symptom prevalence and demographic risk factors among U.S. women during the first 2 years postpartum.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in depression symptom rates and severity and factors associated with depression ratings.


METHODS
Cross-sectional sample of 1,359 American women who had delivered a single, live infant within the previous 2 years.


METHODS
Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale online to screen for depression symptoms as part of Listening to Mothers, a national survey sponsored by Childbirth Connection of New York City and administered by Harris Interactive between May and June 2002.


RESULTS
Evidence of continued mild and moderate-to-severe depression symptom rates throughout the first 2 years postpartum was found. Age, income, education, and employment had significant negative associations with depression symptom severity, and parity had a significant positive association with depression symptom severity. Race was not associated with depression symptom severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term screening for childbearing women is justified based on the study findings. The ease in survey administration suggests potential for online depression screening by health care providers and researchers. Furthermore, risk factors identified from this large-scale national survey, specifically young maternal age, low income, low education, not being employed full time, and multiparity, merit evaluation in clinical practice and future research.
Mayberry
Linda J
LJ
College of Nursing, New York University, NY, USA. linda.mayberry@nyu.edu
Horowitz
June Andrews
JA
Declercq
Eugene
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010298:Parity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology