Sociodemographic predictors of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among women in a medical group practice
Authors
Rich-Edwards, Janet W.Kleinman, Ken P.
Abrams, Allyson
Harlow, Bernard L.
McLaughlin, Thomas J.
Joffe, Hadine
Gillman, Matthew W.
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2006-03-01Keywords
AdultAge Factors
Depression, Postpartum
Epidemiologic Methods
Ethnic Groups
Female
Humans
Marital Status
Mothers
Pregnancy
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Questionnaires
Socioeconomic Factors
United States
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Psychiatry and Psychology
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Data are scarce regarding the sociodemographic predictors of antenatal and postpartum depression. This study investigated whether race/ethnicity, age, finances, and partnership status were associated with antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms. SETTING: 1662 participants in Project Viva, a US cohort study. DESIGN: Mothers indicated mid-pregnancy and six month postpartum depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS). Associations of sociodemographic factors with odds of scoring >12 on the EPDS were estimated. MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 9% at mid-pregnancy and 8% postpartum. Black and Hispanic mothers had a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms compared with non-Hispanic white mothers. These associations were explained by lower income, financial hardship, and higher incidence of poor pregnancy outcome among minority women. Young maternal age was associated with greater risk of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms, largely attributable to the prevalence of financial hardship, unwanted pregnancy, and lack of a partner. The strongest risk factor for antenatal depressive symptoms was a history of depression (OR = 4.07; 95% CI 3.76, 4.40), and the strongest risk for postpartum depressive symptoms was depressive symptoms during pregnancy (6.78; 4.07, 11.31) or a history of depression before pregnancy (3.82; 2.31, 6.31). CONCLUSIONS: Financial hardship and unwanted pregnancy are associated with antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms. Women with a history of depression and those with poor pregnancy outcomes are especially vulnerable to depressive symptoms during the childbearing year. Once these factors are taken in account, minority mothers have the same risk of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms as white mothers.Source
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006 Mar;60(3):221-7. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1136/jech.2005.039370Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/43867PubMed ID
16476752Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1136/jech.2005.039370