Revised Beck Depression Inventory scores of inner-city adolescents: pre- and postpartum

Psychol Rep. 1990 Feb;66(1):315-20. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1990.66.1.315.

Abstract

The revised Beck Depression Inventory was administered to 109 (69.0%) black, 33 (20.9%) Hispanic, and 16 (10.1%) white adolescents who were attending prenatal and postpartum clinics offered by two inner-city hospitals at 28 wk. of pregnancy, 5 wk. postpartum, and 6 mo. postpartum. The mean Beck scores significantly decreased between 28 wk. of pregnancy and 5 wk. postpartum but did not change between 5 wk. and 6 mo. postpartum. The levels of depression were comparable to those previously reported for nonpregnant adolescent females. Using a Beck cut-off score greater than 20 as indicative of depression, 134 (84.8%) were never depressed; 11 (7.0%) became depressed after delivery; 8 (5.1%) ceased being depressed after delivery; and 5 (3.1%) were depressed throughout.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Personality Tests*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence / psychology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychometrics
  • Puerperal Disorders / psychology*