@article{ref1,
title="Postpartum depressive symptoms following consecutive pregnancies: stability, change, and mechanisms",
journal="Clinical psychological science",
year="2016",
author="Schetter, Christine Dunkel and Saxbe, Darby and Cheadle, Alyssa and Guardino, Christine",
volume="4",
number="5",
pages="909-918",
abstract="Postpartum depression is a major mental health issue for women and society. We examined stability and change in symptoms of depression over two consecutive pregnancies and tested life stress as a potential mechanism. The Community Child Health Network followed an ethnically/racially diverse sample from one month after a birth for two years. A subset of 228 women had a second birth. Interview measures of depression symptoms (EPDS) and life stress (life events, perceived stress, chronic stress, interpersonal aggression) were obtained during home visits. Three-quarters of the sample showed intra-individual stability in depressive symptoms from one postpartum period to the next, and 24% of the sample had clinically significant symptoms after at least one pregnancy (9% first, 7.5% second, 3.5% both). Each of the four life stressors significantly mediated the association between depressive symptoms across two postpartum periods. Stress between pregnancies for women may be an important mechanism perpetuating postpartum depression.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2167-7026",
doi="10.1177/2167702616644894",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2167702616644894"
}