Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder, but limited research exists comparing risk factors between adolescent and adult mothers. To further research comparisons between adolescent and adult mothers, a cross-sectional design of two merged datasets was used to compare eleven recognized risk factors for PPD. The sample consisted of 82 mothers with NICU infants representing 35 adults ages 20-44 and 47 adolescents ages 13-19. Assessments via the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) indicted significantly higher mean scores for adolescent mothers. Yet, significant risk factors including pregnancy complications, lower gestational age and infant birth weight, and cesarean birth more likely characterized adults. Marital status differentiated the groups. Findings suggest both age groups to be vulnerable to PPD, recommending routine postpartum assessments for all women. Study limitations included recruitment settings, possible differences in infant characteristics between age groups, and lack of knowledge regarding chronic depression prior to pregnancy.
Publication Date
8-1-2022
Language
English
Faculty Mentor of Honors Project
Cheryl Ann Anderson
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Yu, Milly, "ARE RISK FACTORS FOR POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION DIFFERENT BETWEEN ADULT AND ADOLESCENT MOTHERS OF INFANTS IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE?" (2022). 2022 Spring Honors Capstone Projects. 27.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_spring2022/27