Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that adolescent mothers with higher social support have lower depressive symptoms. This is a longitudinal study of adolescent mothers to examine the association of social support and depressive symptoms over one year postpartum. This was a prospective study of adolescent mothers (N at baseline = 120, N at 1 year = 89; age < 19 years) enrolled in a teen tot program. Participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children (CES-DC) and the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire at baseline, 12 weeks, and 1 year. A score of ≥ 16 on theCES-DCwas suggestive ofmajor depression. The mean CES-DC scores of the adolescent mothers were ≥ 16 points at all three time points (baseline:mean = 18.7 ± 10.3; 53% ≥ 16; 12 weeks:mean = 18.4 ± 11.4, 57% ≥ 16; one year: mean = 20.0 ± 11.4; 57% ≥ 16). Social support had a significant, inverse association with depressive symptoms for all participants from baseline to 12 weeks with a stronger association for those with more depressive symptoms (score ≥ 16) at baseline (beta = -0.030 ± 0.007; P < 0.001) than for those with fewer depressive symptoms (score < 16) at baseline (beta = -0.013 ± 0.006; P = 0.021). From 12 weeks to one year, increased social support was only significantly associated with decreased depressive symptoms for those with a higher baseline level of depressive symptoms (beta = - 0.039 ± 0.009; P<0.001). Depressive symptoms were prevalent among adolescent mothers. For more depressed adolescent mothers, higher levels of social support were associated with less depressive symptoms over the 1 year follow-up. Effective long-term interventions are needed to lessen depression and enhance social support.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 894-901 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Maternal and child health journal |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adolescent mothers
- Depression
- Social support
- Teen mothers
- Teen tot program
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health