How Depressive Symptoms among African American Women Relate to Measures of Social Disorder in Her Childhood and Pregnancy Neighborhood

AbstractPregnant African American women who report higher levels of social disorder (e.g., vacant housing, drug dealing) in their neighborhoods also report higher levels of depressive symptoms. The effects of social disorder in the neighborhood during childhood on depressive symptoms during pregnancy are not known. Also unknown is the interaction between social disorders in the neighborhood during childhood and during pregnancy regarding depressive symptoms during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine whether higher levels of social disorder in the neighborhood during pregnancy buffered the association of social disorder in the neighborhood during childhood (at age 10 as reference) with depressive symptoms during pregnancy among African American women. We conducted a secondary data analysis of 1383 African American women from the Life-course Influences on Fetal Environments (LIFE) Study (Detroit, Michigan, 2009 –2011). Women were interviewed in the hospital 24–72 h after the births. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale measured depressive symptoms. Scales measuring social disorder in the neighborhood both during childhood and during pregnancy were also included in the intervi ews. Women with CES-D scores ≥ 16 were younger, were more likely to be single, and had lower levels of education and household income compared with women with CES-D<  16. There was a significant association between women who report social disorder in ...
Source: Journal of Urban Health - Category: Health Management Source Type: research