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Publication Date
2012
Document Type
Dissertation
Department
School for Social Work
Keywords
Hispanic American women-Psychology, Pregnancy-Psychological aspects, Hispanic Americans-Cultural assimilation, Hispanic American women-Social networks, Life skills, Depression, Latina, Acculturation, Social support, Coping skills
Abstract
This study, a secondary data analysis of the PRENAT study, a longitudinal study of lowincome Latina pregnant women in Hartford, CT. examined the relationship between acculturation, coping styles, social support and depressive symptoms among urban Latina pregnant women (N=70). In this study measure of depressive symptoms, coping styles, and proxy measures of levels of acculturation and social support were correlated and used to predict depression levels during prenatal and postpartum periods. The study hypothesized that higher acculturation would indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms. The findings showed that Puerto Rican women were more acculturated than other Latinas and had higher indices of depressive symptoms. Active coping and social support were positively correlated with lower levels of depression in the postpartum period. More research on depression in pregnant Latinas, particularly Puerto Ricans, is needed to understand the consequences of impaired perinatal mental health on maternal well-being and infant outcomes.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
León, Joanne, "Depression among Latina pregnant women :the impact of acculturation, coping styles, and social support" (2012). Dissertation, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/371
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Comments
vi, 146 p. Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2012. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-118)