At Risk for Depression: A Study of Young Mothers

A sample of 75 mothers between 15 and 19 years of age was used to investigate the relationship between depression and the maternal behavior of young mothers. Depression, as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression (CES-D) Scale, varied with marital status, education, and maternal age and was related to hostile, indifferent and rejecting patterns of mother-child interaction. Levels of depression increased in relation to the amount of stress faced by the young mother and decreased when the mother was involved in a supportive social network.