Maternal and Child Health Journal最新文献

{"title":"Autistic Adolescents' and their Parents' Perspectives on a National Flourishing Item Set: A Construct Validation Study.","authors":"Samantha M Ross-Cypcar, Shannon Zimmerman, Loryn Frame, Tanner Williams, Audrey Pickett, Justin A Haegele, Kristy Anderson","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04242-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04242-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>PURPOSE: Flourishing, or positive mental well-being, may be represented by social relationships, school motivation, and behavioral skills for engaging in meaningful activities. Parents of autistic adolescents demonstrate different response patterns to flourishing items on the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) when compared to parents of non-autistic adolescents. To better understand the source of these differences, we examined the clarity and construct relevance of flourishing items for autistic adolescents (12–17 years). METHODS: Sixteen adolescents (Mean age = 14.6 years) and their parents participated in cognitive interviews, where they were prompted to discuss aloud how they interpreted each item and selected a response option. Parent responses were scored relative to their child’s response for direction (more or less favorable) and magnitude (distance between responses). A deductive thematic analysis was undertaken to identify sources of confusion and the perceived relevance of items to participants. RESULTS: Overall, 39% of dyad responses aligned, while 34% of parents’ responses were less favorable than their child’s self-rated score. Participants showed evidence of confusion around word choice for homework, arguing too much, and challenged normative language in homework and friendships questions. Participants recommended alternative response options that would better reflect their experiences of flourishing. CONCLUSION: Autistic adolescents and their parents generally viewed the NSCH flourishing domains as relevant to adolescent well-being, while differing in how specific items were interpreted and applied. These findings highlight the importance of considering response interpretation when using flourishing indicators in population surveillance and subgroup comparisons involving autistic adolescents. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"498-507"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge and Attitudes of Pediatricians and Pediatric Residents Towards Postpartum Depression Screening of Women in Lebanon.","authors":"Dina Al Haj, Ramy Touma Sawaya, Jana Halwani, Pascale Salameh, Sarah El Yaman, Maroun Matar","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04249-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04249-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health concern affecting maternal well-being and child development. In Lebanon, nearly one-third of postpartum women screen positive for PPD, yet routine screening remains inconsistent. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians screen for PPD during early well-child visits, but pediatric clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Lebanon remain unclear. METHODS: A national cross-sectional online survey targeted practicing pediatricians and pediatric trainees in Lebanon. Online questionnaires, shared via institutional emails and personal social media connections, assessed knowledge of screening tools, attitudes toward responsibility, current practices, perceived barriers, and training needs. Responses were received from 102/1221 pediatricians and 89/155 trainees (response rates: 8.3% and 57.4%). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of knowledge, resource awareness, and willingness to attend training. RESULTS: Only 34.0% identified the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as a commonly used screening tool, and 20.4% correctly identified recommended screening timing. Overall, 86.9% reported no formal training in PPD screening. Although 69.1% supported standardized tools, only 22.8% of pediatricians used them in practice, with most relying on clinical impression. Nearly half (48%) believed obstetricians/gynecologists should be primarily responsible for screening, whereas 32.8% identified pediatricians. Pediatricians were more aware of referral resources than trainees (aOR 6.24; 95% CI 2.52–15.48) but less willing to attend training (aOR 0.15; 95% CI 0.05–0.44). Major barriers included limited awareness of mental health services (31.9%), cultural stigma (29.3%), and time constraints (20.9%). CONCLUSION: Significant gaps exist in knowledge, training, and implementation of PPD screening among pediatric clinicians in Lebanon. Despite recognizing its importance, pediatricians often defer responsibility and rely on subjective assessment rather than standardized tools. Addressing training deficits, clarifying professional roles, and improving access to referral resources are essential to enhance early detection. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"550-563"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147624303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preventing Excessive Gestational Weight Gain During Consecutive Pregnancies: Findings from an mHealth Intervention.","authors":"Anna Roesler, Femke Geusens, Hanne Van Uytsel, Marlien Varnfield, Roland Devlieger, Annick Bogaerts","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04247-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04247-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>INTRODUCTION: Excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) poses significant health risks, including increased pregnancy complications, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Addressing EGWG is critical for women with a history of EGWG, as recurrence is common in consecutive pregnancies. This study presents findings from a subanalysis of the intervention arm of the INTER-ACT multi-center randomied controlled trial (RCT), which evaluated the impact of a combined mobile health (mHealth) and face-to-face lifestyle coaching intervention on EGWG recurrence during consecutive pregnancies. METHODS: This subanalysis focuses on the intervention arm of the INTER-ACT RCT, conducted in six hospitals in Flanders, Belgium. The intervention consisted of two phases: the interpregnancy period (six weeks to six months postpartum) and the consecutive pregnancy (before 15 weeks post-conception to birth). Participants (n = 172) with a history of EGWG received health coaching and used an app to self-monitor weight, steps, and mental health. A multiple regression model assessed the effects of self-monitoring and coaching attendance on EGWG during the consecutive pregnancy in the intervention arm. RESULTS: App engagement decreased from 78% during the interpregnancy period to 37% during the consecutive pregnancy. Self-monitoring behaviors (logging weight, steps, and mental health) or coaching attendance did not independently predict EGWG. A prior history of EGWG was the strongest predictor of EGWG recurrence, followed by older maternal age. CONCLUSION: While mHealth interventions can promote self-monitoring, sustaining engagement across pregnancies remains challenging. Future strategies should focus on improving long-term adherence to mHealth tools to enhance GWG outcomes and maternal health, especially for women motivated to engage with these technologies. These findings, derived from the intervention arm of the INTER-ACT RCT, suggest that further research is needed to assess the broader applicability of these results. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"540-549"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13135537/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147619184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acceptability of Neuroimaging and Hormonal Biomarker Collection in Early Behavioral Intervention Research.","authors":"Angela Deotto, Giulia F Fabiano, Janaksha Linga-Easwaran, Steven P Miller, Evdokia Anagnostou, Elizabeth Kelley, Jennifer Crosbie, Rob Nicolson, Tricia S Williams","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04246-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04246-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>PURPOSE: Despite its high relevance, there is little data surrounding parent acceptability of research that involves neurobiological data collection. The present mixed-method study examined parent acceptability of neuroimaging and hormonal biomarker collection in the context of an evidence-based child-focused intervention. METHODS: Parent participants (N = 173) were recruited from prior hospital-based studies that did not involve biomarker collection, including a clinical-research parenting program designed to treat child behavioral challenges in at-risk groups. Parents answered survey questions, detailing perspectives on research-based brain neuroimaging and hormonal biomarker collection in children and caregivers. Analyses adopted a mixed-methods approach to assess both quantitative and qualitative data. RESULTS: Half or more parent participants indicated interest in the proposed methodologies, with high acceptability reflected in themes surrounding knowledge translation and indicators of child functioning and treatment effectiveness. Expressed concerns surrounded procedure tolerability, timing, and data privacy. Acceptability was highest among parents who concurrently reported elevated child behavior problems and parental mental health stress. Acceptability was also highest for saliva cortisol collection due to procedure ease. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroimaging and hormonal biomarker collection appear promising for capture of brain and physiologic plasticity in neurologically at-risk children and their caregivers. Future efforts should focus on procedure transparency and sensitively adapting methodologies to meet patient and family needs. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"527-539"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between Air Pollutant Exposure and Preterm Birth: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Zhiqiu Cao, Yijuan Du, Li Sun, Zhanhong Fan, Akinyemi Lydia Idowu, Feng Zhang, Yutong Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04256-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04256-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between air pollutant exposure and preterm birth. DESIGN: It was a retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 48,534 singleton pregnancies delivered at Nantong Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2022. Daily concentrations of six pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, O3) were assigned to each woman’s residence and averaged over the first (T1), second (T2), and third (T3) trimesters. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PTB across pollutant quartiles, adjusting for maternal age, parity, season of last menstrual period, fetal sex, pregnancy complications, heart disease, uterine fibroids, obesity, and precious infant status. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) accounted for within-subject exposure correlations. Sensitivity analyses compared models with and without adjustment for pregnancy complications. RESULTS: In fully adjusted Cox models, highest-quartile exposure to PM2.5 during T1 and T3 was associated with increased PTB risk (T1 Q4 vs. Q1: HR=1.155, 95% CI: 1.025–1.302; T3 Q4 vs. Q1: HR=1.325, 95% CI: 1.182–1.486). SO2, NO2, and O3 exposures in T3 similarly elevated PTB risk (SO2 Q4 vs. Q1: HR=1.750, 95% CI: 1.570–1.951; NO₂ Q4 vs. Q1: HR=1.311, 95% CI: 1.154–1.489; O₃ Q4 vs. Q1: HR=1.466, 95% CI: 1.282–1.677). GEE analyses corroborated these associations (all p<0.001). Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent estimates, indicating negligible mediation by pregnancy complications. CONCLUSIONS: Late-pregnancy exposure to pollutants confers the risk for preterm birth. Public health interventions should prioritize air quality improvement during the third trimester to reduce PTB incidence. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"584-598"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147640197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Outcomes of a Tech-enabled Perinatal Collaborative Care Program to Treat Depression and Anxiety.","authors":"Katherine Steele, Martha Zimmermann, Tiffany A Moore Simas, Nancy Byatt, Roshni Koli, Melissa Sherman, Jessica Gaulton, Clare McNutt","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04245-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04245-4","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a tech-enabled collaborative care program in an obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) practice for the treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort chart review from the electronic medical records of N = 185 patients enrolled in a pilot perinatal collaborative care program delivered by a behavioral health company, Family Well Health, in partnership with a large OB/GYN practice in Massachusetes (USA). FamilyWell’s collaborative care model (CoCM) provides telehealth sessions with a certified perinatal behavioral health coach or a licensed therapist, medication management, and implementation assistance to enhance depression screening, assessment, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). English-speaking adults aged ≥ 18 years who screened positive for depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] score ≥ 10) by their OB/GYN clinician were referred to the FamilyWell program. Enrolled patients received weekly or biweekly telehealth sessions with a certified coach or licensed therapist and completed monthly electronic symptom assessments for anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale [GAD-7]) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale [PHQ-9]). Assessment scores were monitored by a behavioral care manager. We evaluated three clinical outcomes including change in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores, treatment response (50% or greater decrease in GAD-7 or PHQ-9 scores), and symptom remission (follow-up PHQ-9 or GAD-7 score &lt; 5). RESULTS: Over 80% of referred patients enrolled in CoCM and more than 70% completed their intake session within one week. At baseline, 86% had a positive GAD-7 or PHQ-9 score (GAD-7 or PHQ-9 ≥ 10 indicating symptoms of moderate, moderate-severe, or severe depression or anxiety). Patients received services from a certified coach (77%) or therapist (23%). PHQ-9 scores decreased by 1.3 points per month (95% CI [− 1.5, − 1.2], p &lt; .001) and GAD-7 scores decreased by 1.3 points per month (95% CI [− 1.5, − 1.2], p &lt; .001). Forty-seven percent of patients (n = 33) demonstrated depression treatment response and 52% (n = 45) demonstrated anxiety treatment response. In addition, 30% of patients (n = 26) experienced anxiety symptom remission in a mean time of 3.2 months and 31% (n = 22) experienced depression symptom remission in a mean time of 3.5 months. Patients received a mean of 8 sessions with a therapist and 9 sessions with a coach before experiencing symptom remission. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that implementing a tech-enabled, coach-driven perinatal collaborative care program is associated with decreases in depression and anxiety symptoms. Symptom remission occurred within eight sessions with a therapist or nine sessions with a coach. Unlike other psychiatric collaborative care programs described in the literature, this program uniquely addresses the behavioral health workforce shortages by integrating ce","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"517-526"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13135563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147640249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"20 Years of Impact on the MCH Workforce: The Tulane Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health.","authors":"Andrea Mantsios, Shokufeh M Ramirez, Juliette E Frazier, Katherine P Theall, Alessandra N Bazzano","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04254-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04254-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) provides funding to support Centers of Excellence (CoE) to prepare the next generation of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) leaders through specialized training and mentorship. This study describes the impact of Tulane University's workforce development program in MCH.</p><p><strong>Description: </strong>We utilized a holistic evaluation approach to examine the impact of Tulane University's CoE, from the program's inception in 2000 through 2024, in building the MCH workforce.</p><p><strong>Assessment: </strong>Utilizing a retrospective evaluation design, routinely collected quantitative and qualitative enrollment and follow-up survey data from program alumni were analyzed. Data reveal the following: (1) the program has trained a broad group of MCH professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, strengthening a workforce prepared to respond to needs of varied communities, (2) alumni overwhelmingly continue to work in MCH after graduation, frequently serving populations with significant unmet health needs and in collaboration with Title V (MCH) agencies, and (3) the majority of trainees go on to serve in leadership positions in policy, practice, academia, or clinical settings.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A well-trained MCH workforce is contingent upon high-quality education and preparation for leadership roles. Through funding from HRSA's MCH Workforce Development Division, Tulane University's CoE has trained people from varied backgrounds, including from populations not well represented in health sciences and communities disproportionately affected by adverse health outcomes, to assume leadership roles and contribute substantively to the field. These results can inform MCH training programs to further strengthen their impact on developing the MCH workforce.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"470-476"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147692809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prenatal Mental Health Screening and Support in a Multidisciplinary Fetal Imaging Program: a Brief Report on Protocol and Early Findings.","authors":"Ellen Bartolini, Tracy Moran Vozar, Adré du Plessis, Nickie Andescavage, Catherine Limperopoulos","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04243-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04243-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>PURPOSE: In this brief report, we present an overview of an integrated mental health program for pregnant patients undergoing subspecialty evaluation for suspected fetal anomaly at Children’s National Hospital. Our approach begins with universal mental health screening administered prior to fetal imaging appointments, with specialized therapy services made available for patients identified as elevated risk for poor mental health outcomes. This study aims to describe the mental health of our patients and to identify risk and protective factors influencing their mental health. The relevant literature, approach, and protocol are highlighted, along with initial findings from a single year of universal screening. METHODS: From June 2023 to June 2024, 661 patients completed mental health screening measures, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and measures of pregnancy-related worry, health literacy, guilt/self-blame, social support, and self-reported resilience. RESULTS: Among 661 participants, 33% scored in the elevated range for depression, while 57% reported high levels of worry, suggesting significant distress in this population. Attendance rates and patient satisfaction at follow-up care were high (93.6% and 100%, respectively), suggesting high treatment acceptability and effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the critical need for integrated mental health services in prenatal settings, revealing clinically significant distress among patients and highlighting modifiable factors that could inform tailored interventions. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"465-469"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147628864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breast Milk Expression Experiences of Public Employees Working for the State of Utah.","authors":"Logan Waechtler","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04250-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04250-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>INTRODUCTION: There are many barriers a woman may encounter when trying to achieve her breastfeeding goals. Returning to the workplace poses one of the most significant obstacles faced by women. Human resource practices can either support or hinder breast milk expression in the workplace. However, there is limited research on the breastfeeding experiences and challenges faced by employees working for state government agencies. METHODS: Data were collected through a cross-sectional qualitative mixed-methods approach consisting of surveys and interviews with current female employees working for the State of Utah. The survey was sent to 10,033 employees, and 1,137 responded. However, 521 had breastfed during their employment, and 459 ultimately met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. Ten interviews were conducted with individuals randomly selected from a subset of the 459 participants who indicated their willingness to be interviewed. Analysis of the data consisted of thematic review and central tendency comparisons. RESULTS: The data analysis revealed that employee experiences may vary by agency. In general, employees expressed stress and anxiety related to pumping at work. Overall, more employees described negative experiences related to workplace environment, job responsibilities, or lack of supervisor support than those who had neutral or positive ones. Experiences have also improved at the State of Utah over time due to teleworking and paid parental leave, but more can be done to better accommodate its employees. CONCLUSION: Employee breastfeeding experiences may be related to the agency culture, work environment, and employer support. Expressing milk at the workplace can generate stress and anxiety for breastfeeding employees. Employee-friendly policies may help improve these experiences. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"564-574"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147619235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlates of Maternal Depressive Symptomatology Among Latina Head Start Mothers.","authors":"Abigail Palmer Molina, Elizabeth M Premo, Lei Duan, Ferol E Mennen","doi":"10.1007/s10995-026-04253-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-026-04253-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>OBJECTIVES: Low-income, Latina mothers are at high risk for experiencing maternal depression, which can impact their young children. This study sought to identify socioeconomic, psychosocial, health, and cultural correlates of depressive symptoms among Latina mothers of Head Start children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with baseline data from 163 Latina mothers enrolled in a larger intervention trial (Mage = 32.7, SD=6.3). Mothers were screened for depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Hierarchical regression models examined whether socioeconomic factors (education, employment, insurance status, income, economic pressure, and number of children in household), psychosocial and health factors (age, lifetime trauma exposure, intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure, living situation, health problems, social support, and prior mental health history), and cultural factors (maternal nativity, preferred language) explained a statistically significant amount of variance in maternal depressive symptoms. RESULTS: 38% of Latina Head Start mothers reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptomatology. Reporting income from earnings and social support were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas lifetime trauma exposure, exposure to current physical and verbal IPV, and endorsing a history of depression were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Cultural factors were not significant. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Findings indicate a high rate of elevated depressive symptomatology in this sample. Cross-system interventions are needed that address both structural and psychosocial contributors to maternal depression for low-income, Latina mothers of young children. Future research should continue to explore the role of cultural factors for Latina mothers. </p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":"490-497"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13135565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}