CHRONIC STRESSORS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND DEPRESSION DURING PREGNANCY

Objectives: To analyze the relationships between stressful life condit ions, social support, and depressive symptomatology during pregnancy i n women of low socioeconomic status and a comparison group of women of higher socioeconomic status. Methods: Study participants were recruit ed from four hospital prenatal care clinics. Low socioeconomic status was defined as no more than 11 years of education and a household inco me below the poverty level. Higher socioeconomic status was defined as at least 12 years of education and a household income at least one an d one-half times the poverty level. All subjects were nulliparous, ove r 18 years of age, and French-speaking. Questionnaires were administer ed verbally at the participants' homes during the 30th week of pregnan cy, approximately. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to measure d epressive symptomatology during the preceding 7 days. Results: Approxi mately 47% of the low socioeconomic status women and 20% of the higher socioeconomic status women scored 10 or more on the Beck Depression I nventory, indicating a depressive state. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that chronic stressors leg, financial and housing problem s), negative life events, and inadequate social support were all linke d to high depressive symptomatology during pregnancy. Conclusion: Duri ng pregnancy, depressive symptoms are common, especially in women of l ow socioeconomic status, and are strongly related to socioenvironmenta l factors.