Title
Sociodemographic predictors of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among women in a medical group practice
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Pediatrics; Department of Psychiatry
Publication Date
2006-3
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Adult; Age Factors; Depression, Postpartum; Epidemiologic Methods; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Marital Status; Mothers; Pregnancy; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors; United States
Disciplines
Pediatrics | Psychiatry | Psychiatry and Psychology
Abstract
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.
DOI of Published Version
10.1136/jech.2005.039370
Source
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2006 Mar;60(3):221-7. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Journal of epidemiology and community health
Related Resources
PubMed ID
16476752
Repository Citation
Rich-Edwards, Janet W.; Kleinman, Ken P.; Abrams, Allyson; Harlow, Bernard L.; McLaughlin, Thomas J.; Joffe, Hadine; and Gillman, Matthew W., "Sociodemographic predictors of antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among women in a medical group practice" (2006). Clinical Research and National Children's Study. 5.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/peds_research/5