Date of Completion
Spring 5-8-2011
Thesis Advisor(s)
Cheryl Beck
Honors Major
Nursing
Disciplines
Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing | Nursing | Other Nursing
Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine factors that may place women at risk for developing depressive symptoms during pregnancy. It was part of a larger, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial investigating the impact of docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) in pregnancy as it relates to postpartum depression. Participants were women with a confirmed pregnancy(N= 45) who were administered the CES-D at two different times, 20-22 weeks gestation and 30-32 weeks gestation. Factors from a self-report of personal history were included in an analysis with the CES-D scores. A significant positive correlation was found between the first CES-D scores and body mass index. The second CES-D resulted in a history of depression being significantly correlated with elevated depressive symptoms. In addition to demonstrating a need for further research, this study indicated that health care professionals need to be more aware of women with these risk factors for elevated depressive symptoms in pregnancy.
Recommended Citation
Kokoszka, Justine M., "Predictors of Elevated Depressive Symptoms in Pregnancy" (2011). Honors Scholar Theses. 196.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/srhonors_theses/196