Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

Interpersonal Relationships Among Black Couples and Depressive Symptoms During Pregnancy

Cleopatra Howard Caldwell¹, Dawn P Misra, William B Rogers

¹Cleopatra Howard Caldwell is a Professor, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Dawn P. Misra is a Professor, Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. William B. Rogers is a Clinical Research Specialist, School of Medicine & VA Medical Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN. Alford Young is a Professor, Department of Sociology, College of Literature, Science, & Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Carmen Giurgescu is an Associate Professor, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. The author can be reached via e-mail at giurgescu.1@osu.edu.

MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing

|July 3, 2018

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to examine associations of the mother-father relationship and social support with depressive symptoms during pregnancy among Black mothers and fathers.

Methods:

Fifty Black mother-father dyads from the Midwest completed a packet of questionnaires that included conflict with partner, social support, depressive symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results:

Twenty-four percent of mothers and 16% of fathers had Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scores ≥23, which have been correlated with a major depression diagnosis. There were no differences in depressive symptoms between mothers and fathers. Fathers reporting high depressive symptoms were not more likely to be partnered with mothers reporting high depressive symptoms. Controlling for age, higher levels of conflict with partner, and lower levels of social support predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms for both mothers and fathers.

Clinical Implications:

Black expectant mothers and fathers may be at risk for clinical depression. Fathers experienced comparable levels of depressive symptoms with mothers, indicating the need to consider fathers' psychological adjustment during pregnancy. Higher levels of conflict with partner and lower levels of social support predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms for both parents. Maternal-child nurses should assess for mothers' as well as fathers' experiences of depressive symptoms and the mother-father relationship when providing prenatal care.

More Related Videos

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Published on: December 2, 2015

Transabdominal Ultrasound for Pregnancy Diagnosis in Reeves' Muntjac Deer

Transabdominal Ultrasound for Pregnancy Diagnosis in Reeves' Muntjac Deer

Published on: January 7, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.

Understanding Interpersonal Attraction

Understanding Interpersonal Attraction

Interpersonal attraction is a fundamental psychological phenomenon influencing human relationships across various contexts. It refers to one person's positive feelings or interests toward another, serving as the foundation for friendships, romantic partnerships, familial bonds, and professional relationships. The nature of interpersonal attraction extends beyond romantic connections, shaping interactions in both short-term and long-term social engagements.Psychological Foundations of...

Long-term Depression

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.

Relationship Formation

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...

Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation

Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation

Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...

Depressants

Depressants

Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Self-Reported Cannabis Use in Pregnancy and Maternal Psychological Health.

Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.)·2026

Associations between area-level deprivation at the Census tract level and preterm birth in the Biosocial Impact of Black Births (BIBB) Study.

Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026

Comparison of vitamin D metabolites associated with preterm birth in a cohort of Black pregnant women.

The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology·2026

Neighborhood Characteristics and Depressive Symptoms Among Black Pregnant Women in Two Midwest Metropolitan Areas.

Western journal of nursing research·2026

Longitudinal analyses of depressive symptoms across pregnancy in Black women.

Annals of epidemiology·2026

Epigenetic consequences of toxic stress in preterm infants and their mothers: protocol for the premature infants, moms, and the social determinants of health-an epigenetic investigation study.

Frontiers in pediatrics·2026

See all related articles