Document Type
Report
Abstract
Stress and depression are noted as major psychological determinants impacting health outcomes for childbearing women. African American (AA) women have been shown to experience “wear and tear” or “weathering” over time with increasing complications. Via secondary analysis, the current study explored the association between stress, depression, and maternal and infant health complications and examined a potential trend of “weathering” emerging between younger and older AA childbearing adolescents. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved primary study examined birth experiences and mental health of adolescents up to nine months postpartum. The current study noted significant associations between postpartum depression (EPDS scores) and stress (IES scores), r=.503, p=.001. Yet despite evidence of “weathering” among older AA women in published studies, no significant trend emerged indicating increased stress, depression, or maternal or infant complications as adolescents aged. Older adolescents, however, did report more stress, depression, and maternal complications prenatally and during postpartum than younger adolescents. Only infant complications were noted to be highest among the younger adolescents. Limited research yields an incomplete picture of health for AA adolescents; yet a potential early developing trend of “wear and tear” or “weathering” over time obligates further research, especially with larger samples of younger and older adolescents.
Publication Date
12-1-2023
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Morgan, Lakyah, "THE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN STRESS, DEPRESSION, AND HEALTH COMPLICATIONS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN YOUNG AND OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDBEARING ADOLESCENTS" (2023). 2023 Fall Honors Capstone Projects. 6.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_fall2023/6