Antepartum Depression Research Articles

Depression prevalence and incidence among inner-city pregnant and postpartum women.

A sample of 192 financially impoverished, inner-city women was assessed for clinical depression twice during pregnancy and once postpartum. At the first and second antepartum interviews, respectively, 27.6% and 24.5% of the women were depressed, controlling for pregnancy-related somatic symptoms. Postpartum depression was found among 23.4% of women. These rates are about double those found for middle-class samples. Particularly heightened risk for antepartum depression was found among single women who did not have a cohabiting partner. African American and European American women did not differ in rates of depression. Antepartum depression was a weak but significant risk factor for postpartum depression.

The relationship of demographic variables, antepartum depression, and stress to postpartum depression

This study examined the contributions of demographic variables, antepartum depressive symptoms, and sources of stress to level of postpartum depression. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and demographic data sheet were administered to 69 women during the eighth month of pregnancy. One month after delivery, subjects completed the post-delivery questionnaire and BDI. A stratified hierarchical regression analysis revealed that marital status, antepartum depressive symptoms, and difficulty of pregnancy predicted level of postpartum depression. Somatic stressors of pregnancy may trigger depressive symptoms that persist after childbirth, particularly in unmarried mothers.

Femininity and work plans protect women against postpartum dysphoria

This study examined contributions of the following variables to postpartum depressive symptomatology: level of antepartum depression, loss of social reinforcement, assertiveness, sex-role orientation, and work plans. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Pleasant Events Schedule (PES), Assertion Inventory, and Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) were administered to 69 women during the eighth month of pregnancy. One month after delivery, subjects were administered the PES, postdelivery questionnaire, and BDI. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that antepartum BDI scores predicted postpartum depressive symptomatology, and BSRI Femininity scores and work plans were significant negative predictors. A one-way analysis of variance of sex role orientation on postpartum BDI scores showed that undifferentiated women reported more depression than other sex role groups.