Depressive Symptoms and Resilience among Pregnant Adolescents: A Case‐Control Study

Abstract

Background. Data regarding depression and resilience among adolescents is still lacking. Objective. To assess depressive symptoms and resilience among pregnant adolescents. Method. Depressive symptoms and resilience were assessed using two validated inventories, the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CESD-10) and the 14-item Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (RS), respectively. A case-control approach was used to compare differences between adolescents and adults. Results. A total of 302 pregnant women were enrolled in the study, 151 assigned to each group. Overall, 56.6% of gravids presented total CESD-10 scores 10 or more indicating depressed mood. Despite this, total CESD-10 scores and depressed mood rate did not differ among studied groups. Adolescents did however display lower resilience reflected by lower total RS scores and a higher rate of scores below the calculated median (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis could not establish any risk factor for depressed mood among studied subjects; however, having an adolescent partner (OR, 2.0 CI 95% 1.06–4.0, P = .03) and a preterm delivery (OR, 3.0 CI 95% 1.43–6.55, P = .004) related to a higher risk for lower resilience. Conclusion. In light of the findings of the present study, programs oriented at giving adolescents support before, during, and after pregnancy should be encouraged.

Depressive Symptoms and Violence Exposure: Contributors to Repeat Pregnancies Among Adolescents

“…Pregnancies may ensue because of partner control over the use of birth control (Miller et al, 2007). Family characteristics influencing an adolescent's childbearing choices can include younger partner age or having a mother who was a pregnant adolescent (Salazar-Pousada et al, 2010). …”

Resilience in Igbo Rural Community Adolescents and Young Adults

“…Some studies have shown a positive relationship between age and resilience (Bolognini et al, 1996;St. Jean et al, 2001;Frost and McKelvie, 2004;Sun and Stewart, 2007;Salazar-Pousada et al, 2010;Torma, 2010;Wagnild, 2011;Gooding et al, 2011) while others reported that resilience decreases with age (Condly, 2006;Schoon, 2006;Riches et al, 2009). Evidently, most of the existing studies have investigated age effects on resilience within the same cohort of adolescents or between children and adolescents while others were among young adults and older adults.…”

Exploring The Construct Validity Of The Two Versions Of The Resilience Scale In An Portuguese Adolescent Sample

“…As proposed by Wagnild at the Resilience User´s Guide (2011 version) and taking as reference recent RS studies (long and short versions) among adolescences that have always used a total score (Hunter & Chandler, 1999;Rew et al, 2001;Black & Ford-Gilboe, 2004, as cited in Wagnild, 2009Winsett et al, 2010;Salazar-Pousada et al, 2010), we emphasize the need to explore the construct validity of the RS for Portuguese adolescents, namely the unidimensionality of the instrument.…”

“…Resilience research over the past two decades (Haskett et al, 2006;Windle, 2011) and health polices as well as application/practice in more recent years (Friedli, 2009), have contributed to make resilience recognized as an important factor for lifelong health, well-being, quality of life and how people respond to the various challenges of the ageing process (Sikkes et al, 2008;Windle, 2011). Moreover, "resilience could be the key to explain resistance to risk across the lifespan and how people bounce back and deal with various challenges" (Windle, 2011, p.1) presented in different stages of life.…”