An Epidemiological Study of Maternal Depression: Findings from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development.
Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: This study examined maternal depression status from month 1 to 36 after birth using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Maternal depression was assessed with the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The prevalence of maternal depression was highest at 1 month, decreased at 6 months, and then kept fairly stable to 36 months. The prevalence was higher in blacks than other races, in 18-24 than 25-46 years old, and in single mothers than non-single mothers. Mothers with better physical health, social support, or employed had a lower prevalence than their counterparts. Mothers in poverty, receiving public assistance, or who had more parental stress had a higher prevalence. Social support and parental stress had a statistically significant relationship with maternal depression even after adjusting for other variables. In conclusion, this longitudinal study found that several maternal, child, and family factors were associated with maternal depression.
Author: Liang Wang
Institution: East Tennessee State University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1888221618