Powerpoint

Editor's Notes

1. Postpartum depression is known as a depressive state that women experience after their baby is born, also known as the postpartum period. Symptoms include insomnia, irritability, tears mood swings, and overwhelmed feelings.
2. Most of the research surrounding postpartum depression focuses on its affects on marital relationships, child development, and characteristics of women susceptible to it. To stay on course of the topic, I will discuss the women who are more sucessptable to postpartum depression. With respect to single parents, are they more likely to suffer from postpartum depression?
3. The results of the examined studies were very diverse, but of notable content. Irish scholar Frank Houghton has found that “single” by no means equates to lack of support, or finances, and “marriage” does not equate to a supportive, financially secure home environment (Akincigil et al., 2010). Additionally, non-marital childbearing is becoming more of the norm for our society, and may not necessarily be a catalyst for additional stress for single parents. Women that did experience postpartum depression at any point added the risk of their youth acting violently by age eleven (Hay, et al., 2003). In a study by Hobfull et al., (1995), evaluated a sample of 192 financially impoverished women, twice during pregnancy, and once postpartum. Twenty-four percent of the women were depressed postpartum; about double the rates in women in higher socioeconomic status. Participants were mostly around the age of 24, on public assistance, as well as African-American (Hobfoll et. all, 1995). Limitations to this research included interviewer biases, since the participants were of majority African-Americans. It was suggested that a middle-class comparison sample should have been included to determine better results.
4. In conclusion, the findings of my research were varied, but notable. People may assume that single parents are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, however, partnerships were shown to be a non factor. Single parents are not susceptible to postpartum depression, but with the added concerns of lower socioeconomic status, they can be. More research is recommended in effort to create better preventative and supportive resources to women who are at risk, not matter what their situation.