Stability of maternal depressive symptoms among urban, low-income, African American adolescent mothers.
BACKGROUND
Maternal depressive symptomatology is an important public health issue with negative consequences for both mothers and infants.


METHODS
This study examined prevalence and patterns of depressive symptoms among 181 urban, low-income, first-time, African American adolescent mothers recruited from urban hospitals following delivery. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 6 (N=148; 82%) and 24 (N=147; 81%) month home visits. Depressive symptoms were measured with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).


RESULTS
Half of mothers (49%) had BDI scores >9 at baseline, with significant correlations between BDI scores across all visits (r=0.28-0.50). Depressive symptom trajectories analyzed using group-based trajectory modeling revealed three trajectories of depressive symptoms: Low (41%), Medium (45%), and High (14%). The high depressive symptom group reported lower self-esteem, more negative life events, and lower parenting satisfaction than the low and moderate depressive symptoms groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms were self-reported and not verified with a clinical interview. Findings are limited to urban, low-income, African American adolescent mothers and may not be generalizable to other populations.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence and relative stability of depressive symptoms through 2years of parenting suggest the need for early identification and treatment of maternal depressive symptoms. Brief screening for maternal depressive symptoms conducted during pediatric well-child visits is a feasible and effective method for identifying mothers with depressive symptoms, however, screening measures can not differentiate between high and low levels of depressive symptoms. Brief intervention may be an effective treatment for mothers with mild symptoms of depression; mothers with moderate to severe symptoms may require more intensive intervention.
Ramos-Marcuse
Fatima
F
Department of Family and Community Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, United States.
Oberlander
Sarah E
SE
Papas
Mia A
MA
McNary
Scot W
SW
Hurley
Kristen M
KM
Black
Maureen M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D015142:Baltimore; D003153:Community Health Services; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data