Prediction of Postpartum Social Support and Symptoms of Depression in Pregnant Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Many pregnant adolescents remain in school, creating unique challenges for professionals to meet their educational and health needs. In this descriptive pilot study of pregnant adolescents ( n = 26), 68% demonstrated symptoms of depression as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). In addition, there was an expectation by the pregnant adolescent that postpartum social support received, as measured by the Postpartum Support Questionnaire, would be different from what is important to her. As an important part of the team, school nurses are uniquely positioned to screen pregnant adolescents for depression and to assist them in learning how to negotiate for the social support that is important to them.