Correlates of depression according to maternal age

J Genet Psychol. 1988 Dec;149(4):535-45. doi: 10.1080/00221325.1988.10532179.

Abstract

A convenience sample of 654 low-income, primarily single, head-of-household mothers participated in a study of the correlates of maternal depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression (CES-D). Across three age groupings, the CES-D was positively correlated with punitive attitudes toward childrearing, inaccurate knowledge of child development, and insufficient social support. Social support was the best predictor of depression from a set of seven potential sociodemographic and psychological predictors. Objective measures of parenting behavior obtained with the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment were not associated with depression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude
  • Child Development
  • Child Rearing
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Maternal Age*
  • Mother-Child Relations*
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Environment