Mothers' Perceptions of Help-Seeking for Depression in Head Start: A Thematic, Discourse Analysis by Language Group

Maternal depression poses a threat to the well-being of poor minority mothers and their young children, but significant disparities remain in the access and utilization of treatment among this population in the United States. Providing group treatment in early childhood education settings like Head Start may be an effective way to address this public health concern. However, intervention developers would benefit from understanding potential barriers and facilitators to engagement with this population, particularly those related to cultural and linguistic differences. Focus groups were conducted to explore perceptions of help-seeking for depression among English and Spanish-speaking Head Start mothers as part of a larger effectiveness study. Thematic and discourse analysis strategies were used to examine similarities and differences across English and Spanish language groups. Results revealed similar and divergent concerns about broader environmental stressors and striking differences in the processes of group formation. Findings demonstrate the importance of addressing structural factors, developing flexible interventions, and tailoring interventions for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking groups.