Prevalence and Predictors of Depressive Symptoms in Pregnant African American Women

Abstract

African American women may be especially vulnerable to antepartum depression, a major health concern during pregnancy. This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms in a sample of African American women who were between 14–17 weeks pregnant, a timeframe that is typically thought to be a time of general well-being. Two-thirds reported a CES-D score ≥ 16 indicative of depressive symptomatology. Age, perceived stress (as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]), and anxiety (as measured by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]) predicted depressive symptoms; the interaction between PSS and STAI scores was also a significant predictor. Our study findings suggest that early identification of stress and anxiety, in addition to depressive symptoms, is vital for intervention with this group.