PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN PREGNANT ADOLESCENTS

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence and correlates of psychopatholo gy, as measured by the Youth Self-Report Scale, in pregnant adolescent s so that interventions during pregnancy may be tailored to treat the psychopathology and thereby improve maternal and child outcomes. Metho ds: Scores on seven psychologic syndromes (withdrawn, delinquent, aggr essive behaviors; anxiety/depression; and social, thought, and attenti on problems) were compared for groups of pregnant adolescents (n = 185 ), never pregnant teenagers (n = 126), and previously published normat ive samples of clinically referred (n = 518) and nonreferred (n = 518) female adolescents using chi-square, Student's t-tests, analysis of c ovariance, or multiple logistic regression. Correlates of psychopathol ogy were identified for the pregnant sample using odds ratios and 95% confidence limits. Results: Pregnant adolescents exhibited less seriou s or lower rates of psychopathology than groups against which they wer e compared. Correlates of psychopathology included substance use durin g pregnancy, prior assault, maternal childbirth before age 18 years, e thnicity, greater than or equal to 3 sexual partners, and absence of a relationship with the baby's father. Conclusions: Although the preval ence of psychopathology was lower among pregnant patients, those who e xhibit psychopathology are likely to engage in risky health behaviors that contribute to poor perinatal outcome.