PROBLEM
Little is known about the rates, correlates, and consequences of depression among a sample of first time mothers.
METHODS
4-site prospective study of the first 3 years of life among first children born to teen (n = 396), low resource (n = 169) and high resource adult (n = 117). Mothers were administered the Beck Depression Inventory prenatally and 6 months postpartum. Measures of maternal and child behaviors were taken at 8 months.
FINDINGS
Teen mothers displayed higher prenatal and 6-month rates of depression than low resource and high resource adult mothers, with significantly more teen mothers “consistently” depressed at the 2 time points than low resource and high resource adult mothers. Further, teen mothers were significantly more likely to become depressed after their babies were born than low resource or high resource adult mothers. Depression was negatively related to parenting practices and children’s behavior. As depression increased, mothers scored less favorably in maternal warmth and sensitivity, contingent responsiveness, and general verbalness; children scored less favorably in warmth seeking toward their mothers.
CONCLUSION
Findings signify the need for counseling and nurse-based intervention and prevention services geared at preparing pregnant teens for motherhood.
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