Depression in New Mothers: Findings from the 2001 Early Childhood

Longitudinal Study

Zhihuan Jennifer Huang, M.B., Ph.D., M.P.H.Children’s National Medical CenterGeorge Washington University Medical Center

Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), 9-month data

The study follows a nationally representative cohort of children born in 2001. The parents of 10,688 children were interviewed when the children’s age ranged between 6-23 months. In our study: Mothers with a child under 1 year. Sample was designed to support statistical analysis in most race/ethnicity groups.

Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D) scores in ECLS-B

A modified version of the CES-D is used Scores can be computed based on

responses to 12 questions from the parent self-administered questionnaire

4 categories of depression: none, mild, moderate, and severe. The last category was used as an indicator for further assessment of the presence of an active, major or minor depressive episode*

* SOURCES: Suri, R and etc. 2004

Mother’s CES-D score by race/ethnicity

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Overall White AfricanAmerican

Hispanics Asian PacificIslander

NativeAmerican

None Mild Moderate Severe

Mother’s CES-D score by Hispanic ethnicities

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Overall Mexican PuertoRican Cuban Other

None Mild Moderate Severe

Mother’s CES-D score by Asian ethnicities

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

None Mild Moderate Severe

Mother’s CES-D score by nativity in Hispanics and Asians

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

US born Foreign born US born Foreign born

None Mild Moderate Severe

Hispanics Asians

Risk factors for severe depression

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

<20 years old

Rural

Not married at child birth

Poor health

Lower SES

Marriage (not married, married)

Mother’s Age(<20, 20-35, >35

SES(poorest, richest)

Urbanicity (rural, suburban, urban)

Mother’s Health(poor vs. good)

Percentage of mothers with severe depression who did not talk to doctor or counselor, by

race/ethnicity

57.5

72.279.9 78.3

100

73.1

0102030405060708090

100

White AfricanAmerican

Hispanics Asian PacificIslander

NativeAmerican

For more informationEarly Childhood National Longitudinal Study: http://nces.ed.gov/ecls