This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lindsay, R. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Lindsay, R. L.
Related Collections
Right arrow Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

AAP Grand Rounds 2:56-57 (1999)
© 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics

DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS

Risk Factors for Maternal Depression in Neonatal and Head Start Age Groups

Sources: (1) Lanzi RG, Pascoe JM, Keltner B, Ramey S. Correlates of maternal depressive symptoms in a national Head Start sample. Arch Pediatr Adol Med. 1999;153:801–807. (2) Mandl KD, Tronick EZ, Brennan TA, Alpert HR, Homer CJ. Infant health care use and maternal depression. Arch Pediatr Adol Med. 1999;153:808–813.

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

These two studies examined maternal depression, which is a very common and important problem that often goes untreated and undiagnosed. Lanzi and her associates examined depressive symptomatology among 5,820 mothers during their children’s kindergarten years using data collected from the National Head Start/Public School Early Childhood Transition Demonstration Project. Rates of maternal depression were assessed using the Parent Health and Depression Questionnaire, a 3-item, validated screening tool. The mean (SD) age of the mothers was 30.1 (5.55) years; 57% were unemployed; 68% had a high school diploma; 46% were non-Hispanic white, 30% African American, 13% Hispanic, 6% American Indian, 1% Asian American, 4% other. More than 40% of the mothers screened positive for depressive symptoms. The strongest associations, after controlling for several biological and demographic variables, were maternal chronic health problem (adjusted odds ratio, 2.77; 95% confidence interval 1.98–3.87), homelessness (adjusted odds ratio, 2.00; 95% CI 1.45–2.77), and lowest income level (adjusted odds ratio, 1.56; 95% CI 1.30–1.88). The authors recommended . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Ronald L. Lindsay, MD, FAAP
Pediatrics, Nisonger Center UAP, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH