Introduction
Perinatal depression affects 13% of childbearing individuals in the U.S. and has been
linked to an increased risk of household economic insecurity in the short term. This
study aims to assess the relationship between perinatal depression and long-term economic
outcomes.
Methods
This was a longitudinal analysis of a cohort of mothers from the Fragile Families
and Child Wellbeing Study starting at delivery in 1998–2000 and followed until 2014–2017.
Analysis was conducted in 2021. Maternal depression was assessed using the Composite
International Diagnostic Interview–Short Form 1 year after childbirth, and the outcomes
included measures of material hardship, household poverty, and employment. Associations
between maternal depression and outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression and
group-based trajectory modeling.
Results
In total, 12.2% of the sample met the criteria for a major depressive episode 1 year
after delivery. Maternal depression had a strong and sustained positive association
with material hardship and not working for pay in Years 3, 5, 9, and 15 after delivery.
Maternal depression also had a significant positive association with household poverty
across Years 3–9 and with unemployment in Year 3. Trajectory modeling established
that maternal depression was associated with an increased probability of being in
a persistently high-risk trajectory for material hardship, a high-risk trajectory
for household poverty, and a high–declining risk trajectory for unemployment.
Conclusions
Supporting perinatal mental health is crucial for strengthening the economic well-being
of childbearing individuals and reducing the impact of maternal depression on intergenerational
transmission of adversity.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 22, 2021
Identification
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© 2021 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
