Stressful Life Events and Self-Reported Postpartum Depressive Symptoms 13-24 Months After Live Birth Among Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native Mothers in Oregon

OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between stressful life events and postpartum depressive symptoms among non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) mothers. METHODS: We analyzed self-reports of stressful life events and depressive symptoms from 298 AI/AN respondents and conducted logistic regression to examine their association. RESULTS: Of the AI/AN mothers who responded, 29.7% reported depressive symptoms during their second postpartum year. Partner-related and traumatic stressful life events were significantly associated with increased risk of postpartum depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: AI/AN women should receive intensive screening for depression through the second postpartum year. Programs that address stressful life events may be part of a plan to decrease postpartum depression

Anxiety · Depressive symptoms · Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale · Environmental health · Injury prevention · Logistic regression · Medical emergency · Poison control · Population · Postpartum depression · Postpartum period · Pregnancy · Psychiatry · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Demography · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior