Personal, family, and health-related correlates of depressive symptoms in mothers with HIV.

This study examined longitudinally depressive symptoms in 54 HIV-infected mothers with infants. The contribution of selected personal and family characteristics and health-related factors to depressive symptoms also was explored. Most of the women were single and African American, and most were on public assistance. Data were collected when the infants were approximately 3, 6, and 12 months of age. About a third of the mothers were at risk for depression, as indicated by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores above the cutoff. The best predictors of depressive symptoms were feelings of stigma, self-perceptions of health, and physical symptoms, all factors associated with HIV. The findings have implications for helping HIV-infected mothers with depressive symptoms and stigma related to HIV.