• 215-01 - Partner Support and Postpartum Depression: A Review of the Literature
  Presented by: Katharine Wickel
• 215-02 - Adolescent Family Relations and Depression in the Transition to Adulthood
  Presented by: Maggie Ledwell
• 215-03 - Religiosity, Depression and Family Functioning of Mothers of Children With Disabilities
  Presented by: Franklin Poulsen, Susanne Olsen Roper, Elaine Marshall
• 215-04 - Depression, Nutrition/Physical Activity Routines and Obesity in Poor, Rural America
  Presented by: Jacy Downey, Kimberly Greder

Abstracts

Partner Support and Postpartum Depression: A Review of the Literature

Presented by: Katharine Wickel

Postpartum depression affects many families, and there are still many unknowns.  Social support has been shown to be related to a woman’s postpartum depression symptomatology, however few articles distinguish between the people providing the social support. Selection criteria included: overtly address social support given by an intimate partner, the sample of interest must be postpartum women or their partners,  and published in English in peer-reviewed journals.  In general, the articles described the importance of partner support in lessening depressive symptoms.  This area of the literature is still new, and there are many questions that still need to be answered.

Adolescent Family Relations and Depression in the Transition to Adulthood

Presented by: Maggie Ledwell

The transition to adulthood also marks an increase in depressive symptomology. The stability of depression during this transitional period may influence later adult functioning and well-being. The current quantitative study examines the role of family relations in adolescence on the stability of depressive symptoms over the transition to adulthood, using longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of young people (Add Health). Results suggest that family cohesion and parental closeness in adolescence help to ameliorate depression in this transition. Maternal and paternal closeness also interact, enhancing one another to reduce depression. Gender differences in these associations are also examined.

Religiosity, Depression and Family Functioning of Mothers of Children With Disabilities

Presented by: Franklin Poulsen, Susanne Olsen Roper, Elaine Marshall

The purpose of this study was to examine associations among religiosity, depression, and family functioning and compare LDS mothers with mothers of other religious denominations who were raising a child with a disability. Participants were 282 mothers living in Georgia and Utah. Results indicated that increased depression among mothers is related to poorer marital and family outcomes, and that religiosity is related to decreased depression.  No differences emerged between LDS mothers and mothers from other religious groups. However, results indicates that for LDS mothers only, increased religiosity may provide a protective mechanism to decrease depression, thus improving family functioning.

Depression, Nutrition/Physical Activity Routines and Obesity in Poor, Rural America

Presented by: Jacy Downey, Kimberly Greder

A subset of data from the "Rural Families Speak About Health" study is being examined to consider the relationships between maternal depression, mother's body mass index (BMI), family nutrition and physical activity routines and BMI of children, twelve years or younger, residing in low-income, rural America.