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Longitudinal Study of Depressive Symptoms and Social Support in Adolescent Mothers

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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 the CES-DC was suggestive of major 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.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the staff and patients in the Young Parents program. This research was supported in part by the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs, Grant #5AP PA 002033-02-C, and Leadership Education in Adolescent Health grant #T71 MC 00009 Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title 5, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Primary Care Innovation and the Edgerly Family.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Pediatrics, CHPCC Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Joanne E. Cox

  2. Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Elizabeth R. Woods

  3. Clinical Research Program, Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Sion Kim Harris

  4. Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University, Providence, RI, UK

    Joanna D. Brown

  5. Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Matthew P. Buman

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  1. Joanna D. Brown
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  2. Sion Kim Harris
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  3. Elizabeth R. Woods
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  4. Matthew P. Buman
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  5. Joanne E. Cox
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Correspondence to Joanne E. Cox.

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Brown, J.D., Harris, S.K., Woods, E.R. et al. Longitudinal Study of Depressive Symptoms and Social Support in Adolescent Mothers. Matern Child Health J 16, 894–901 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-011-0814-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-011-0814-9

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