title: Altered perceptions of personal control about retained weight and depressive symptoms in low-income postpartum women.
abstract: Postpartum weight retention and depressive symptoms have a high prevalence among low income women. This qualitative study describes low-income women's experiences of weight changes and depressive symptoms during the late postpartum period. Women (n = 25) who were either overweight or had depressive symptoms, or both, at 12 months postpartum participated in an ethnically-congruent focus group. Women's experiences indicated altered personal control related to retained postpartum weight and depressive feelings. Retained weight negatively affected self-esteem and family functioning. Depression left women feeling isolated yet reluctant to seek help. These findings could provide the basis for health promotion interventions relevant to this population.
authors: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78701-1499, USA.
authors: Bobbie Sue
authors: BS
authors: Sterling
authors: Eileen R
authors: ER
authors: Fowles
authors: Alexandra A
authors: AA
authors: Garcia
authors: Sandra K
authors: SK
authors: Jenkins
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Wilkinson
authors: Minseong
authors: M
authors: Kim
authors: Sunghun
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Lara
authors: L
authors: Latimer
authors: Lorraine O
authors: LO
authors: Walker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001835:Body Weight; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty