The document summarizes several studies that examined correlations between teen pregnancy/motherhood and depression. One study found 53.6% of teen mothers exhibited depression symptoms, and depression was associated with decreased maternal confidence and social support. Another study found factors like social isolation, maternal competence, and weight/shape concerns predicted depression levels in teen mothers. However, one Columbia University study found that for some teen mothers, pregnancy increased a sense of purpose and safety-conscious behaviors as support from mothers/grandmothers increased. The proposed study would use the Beck Depression Inventory to examine correlations between depression levels before and after pregnancy in 200 teen mothers.

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Depression and teen moms: A correlational study
Natalie Spencer
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

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Abstract
Some studies have shown a correlation between teen pregnancy and depression or post-
partum depression. Other studies have shown that the high level of support that teen moms have
from family can be beneficial. Teen mothers can also get a lot of meaning and purpose out of
becoming a mother when maybe their path was headed in a bad direction prior to becoming a
mother. The study that the researcher proposes is using a Beck depression test with pregnant
teenagers to see if there is a correlation between being depressed and being pregnant as a
teenager.
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Depression and teen moms: A correlational study
Insights teen parent program and the social work program at Portland State University
did a study on the correlation between what they called “intimate partner violence” and
depression. They were looking into social support systems and depression and how it related to
domestic violence with pregnant teen girls. They used a survey they call AAS-the Abuse
Assessment Screen, and a depression scale. They found that those who felt fearful of their
significant other had higher depression scores, but that those who had a good support system
often showed lesser degrees of depression. It seems that there is a higher chance of depression
for those in abusive relationships, and then among those, if they have a good support system they
are less depressed than those without the positive support system. (Sussex, Barb, Corcoran,
Kevin 2005).
Issues in Mental Health Nursing published a study that looked at 15 teenage mothers.
“The findings suggest that for some adolescent mothers the experience of motherhood may help
them improve their previously self-destructive lives. Many adolescent mothers have engaged in
impulsive high-risk activities prior to their pregnancies. Through the establishment of a maternal
identity and simultaneous development of a strong sense of maternal protectiveness these young
women are making realistic, future-oriented decisions that are motivating them to leave gang
life, finish high school, go to college, and get vocational training.” (Lesser, Janna; Koniak-
Griffin, Deborah;. Anderson, Nancy L. R 1999).
In a research study support by the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, they looked at urban teen moms who were in a school that had daycare and

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programs for teen mothers. Some of the teen mothers had their child in the school’s daycare,
while others had their child cared for by relatives at home. They surveyed and interviewed 65
teenage mothers who volunteered within the school setting. Their conclusion was that “For at-
risk teen mothers, this parent support program and school-based child care setting appears to
offer promising opportunities to help young mothers with parenting, avoid rapid subsequent
pregnancies, and stay engaged with school, while their children are cared for in a close and safe
environment.” (Sadler, Swartz, et. Al, 2007).
In a study of 168 teen mothers, with a mean age of 17.6, there were depression symptoms
in 53.6% of the participants in the study. This particular study was mostly with minorities. The
survey sample consisted of 50% African American, 31% Latina, and 13% biracial. They did a
study on perceived social support. The conclusion they came up with is “Depression is
associated with decreased maternal confidence in their ability to parent and decreased perceived
maternal social support, with a possible moderating effect of social support on the relationship of
maternal self-esteem and depression.” (Cox, et al, 2008).
The University of South Florida did a study on adolescent motherhood and postpartum
depression. They had in their study 149 teenage mothers. These mothers were ages 15-19 and
they were in school programs for teen mothers. This article discusses how stressful the transition
to being a mother is just on anybody, but that the stress increases by being a teen mom.
Teenagers are already going through such a hard time of figuring out who they are a part from
their family of origin, and figuring out goals in life, as well as where they fit into society. There
is often trouble figuring out their role as they are still a daughter, and often living at home, but
becoming a mother themselves and having increased adult responsibilities while they are still
expected to act as a daughter and follow household rules. They quote a study by Hammon and

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Rudolph that talks about how there are a lot of different things that contribute to depression in
teenagers such as the way they view their bodies, family life, socioeconomic status, as well as
biology from their family of origin. “Developing confidence and a belief in one’s ability to
parent effectively is also a difficult and stressful task adolescent mother’s encounter.” This
specific study looked at a number of factors to see which were larger predicting factors to
whether or not the teen mom would deal with depression. The findings of the study were
“regression analysis indicated that social isolation, maternal competence, and weight/shape
concerns predicted unique variance associated with depression level.”( Birkeland , Robyn, J.
Thompson, Kevin , Phares, Vicky,2005).
Colombia University did a study that seemed to show different results than the other two
above. They did a psychotherapy trial that used interviews and therapy as their method. They
found that with many of the teen mothers it was an overall positive thing for the teen girls to
become mothers. “A heightened sense of purpose emerged, connected with drastically increased
safety-conscious behaviors.” They found that their mothers and grandmothers became their
support system and were often a great deal of help which may have aided them from having
depressive symptoms. (Shanok, A. F. and Miller, L, 2007).
Method
Participants

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Sample 200 teen moms through a local hospital, before and after personal interviews and
Beck Depression Inventory when teens arrive and leave the hospital. Using a hospital that takes
all types of insurance options would open up the participant range to be of all ethnicities and
socioeconomic statuses. Possibly Ku Medical or Shawnee mission medical, whichever head
social worker would be open to the process.
Materials
The BDI (Beck depression inventory), as well as self-report on a scale of 1-10 how
depressed the teen reports feeling. This would be a personal interview style, but short, maybe a
5-10 minute interview, as to not take up too much of the participant’s time. The same inventory
and scale would be given both times, to be able to compare the self-reported depression or lack
thereof before and after pregnancy.
Procedure
The Beck depression inventory (BDI) would be given to teen moms before and after
leaving the hospital, in the same setting where they discuss options for adoption or keeping their
babies as well as support through government agencies. Usually a social worker meets with
disadvantaged clients, which teen moms would be seen as those who might need a visit from the
social worker. The key is getting a head social worker of the hospital on board to be able to
either give the survey, or allow the survey to be given by the researchers or researchers
assistants. The survey would be optional and rewarded with some kind of baby gift that would be
donated through a charity. The incentive would range from anything donated such as car seats,
baby clothes, bottles, etc. The idea would be to give it to the hospital social worker, who would
most likely meet with all teen moms and some point. The Beck depression inventory would be

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used when they enter the hospital or during intial check-ups, and right before they left the
hospital. The first survey would be given at initial check-in to the hospital if possible, or shortly
after. The second time the Beck depression inventory (BDI) would be given either when a social
worker visits with the teen mom to connect them with local resources, or at time of check-out of
the hospital. Most hospitals have a social worker who will meet with the teen moms, so the
timing of the test would be when it best works, but the inventory would be given roughly around
check-in and check-out of the hospital. To keep things consistent, both would be done inside the
clients hospital room if possible.
Results
The data will be evaluated by computing a Pierson product: moment correlation or
correlational coefficient.

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References
Birkeland ,Robyn, Thompson ,Kevin, Phares, Vicki.
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
Vol. 34, Iss. 2, 2005
Cox,Joanne, Buman,Matthew, Valenzuela,Jennifer, Joseph,Natalie, Mitchell,Anna, Woods,
Elizabeth
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynocology,
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10/1016/j.jpag.2008.02.002
Lesser, Janna; Koniak-Griffin, Deborah;. Anderson Nancy L. R,(1999)
Informahealthcare vol. 20 NO. 2 doi:10.1080/016128499248718
Sadler, L. S., Swartz, M. K., Ryan-Krause, P., Seitz, V., Meadows-Oliver, M., Grey, M. and
Clemmens, D. A.
(2007), Promising Outcomes in Teen Mothers Enrolled in a School-Based Parent Support
Program and
Child Care Center. Journal of School Health, 77: 121–130. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-
1561.2007.00181.x
Shanok, A. F. and Miller, L. (2007), STEPPING UP TO MOTHERHOOD AMONG INNER-
CITY TEENS.
Psychology of Women Quarterly, 31: 252–261. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6402.2007.00368.x

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Sussex, Barb, Kevin Corcoran, (2005). The Impact of Domestic Violence on Depression in Teen
Mothers:
Is The Fear of Threat of Violence Sufficient? Oxford University Press.Vol 5. No.1