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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
06:39
Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Prevalence, correlates, and persistence of maternal depression
Sarah McCue Horwitz1, Margaret J Briggs-Gowan, Amy Storfer-Isser
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4945, USA. sarah.horwitz@case.edu
Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|July 14, 2007
Summary
Maternal depression is common, with nearly half of mothers experiencing persistent symptoms a year later. Identifying and treating postpartum depression is crucial for mother and child well-being.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Maternal Mental Health
- Child Development
Background:
- Maternal depression affects a significant portion of mothers with young children.
- Understanding the prevalence and predictors of maternal depressive symptoms is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in mothers of young children.
- To examine rates and predictors of persistent and incident elevated depressive symptoms at a 1-year follow-up.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analyses of a birth cohort.
- Initial survey and 1-year follow-up assessments.
- Adjusted regression models to identify correlates and predictors.
Main Results:
- Approximately 17% of mothers had elevated depressive symptoms initially; 46% of these had persistent symptoms at 1 year.
- Initial symptoms correlated with anxiety, parenting distress, poor health, financial strain, stress, low social support, and younger child age.
- Persistent symptoms linked to anxiety, family conflict, and low education; incident symptoms associated with sociodemographics, health, parenting distress, and life events.
Conclusions:
- Elevated depressive symptoms are common in mothers of young children, with high persistence rates.
- Predictors for persistent and incident maternal depression differ, necessitating ongoing identification and treatment.
- Early and continued intervention is essential to mitigate negative consequences for mothers and children.
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