Depression among adolescent mothers enrolled in a high school parenting program.
Depressive symptoms in adolescent mothers have been associated with a variety of negative outcomes for both the adolescent mother and her child. The purpose of this article is to describe the dimensions of the Beck Depression Inventory®-II and to provide a discussion of how depression may appear in adolescent mothers. This descriptive study involved 45 adolescent mothers in a high school-based parent support program. The average score on the depression inventory for the adolescent mothers was 12.27 (SD = 8.57). One third (n = 15) of the adolescent mothers displayed depressive symptoms. All of the adolescent mothers reported experiencing increased symptoms related to loss of energy, changes in sleep patterns, changes in appetite, and tiredness/fatigue. It is important for nurses working with adolescent mothers to understand that what may be perceived as a normal adaptation to motherhood may in fact be a deeper emotional issue such as depression.
Meadows-Oliver
Mikki
M
Yale Child Study Center, Yale University, School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA. Mikki.meadows-oliver@yale.edu
Sadler
Lois S
LS
D000293:Adolescent; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008403:Mass Screening; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012573:School Nursing