The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74599

Ritesh I Mistry, MPH, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 1454 Armacost Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025, (310) 966-5057, riteshm@ucla.edu, Gregory Stevens, PhD, Deparment of Pediatrics, University of California, 10945 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6939, and Neal Halfon, MD, MPH, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave, 61-254 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Objective. Characterize relationships between child rearing-related sources of distress (i.e., financial difficulties, limited healthcare access and single parenting) and maternal mental health.

Methods. Data are from National Survey of Early Childhood Health, a nationally representative survey of 2,068 children 4-35 months old. Study sample constitutes mother respondents (n=1703). Dependent variable is poor mental health (MH), i.e. scores below 20th percentile on 5-item Mental Health Index. Study independent variables are: financial difficulties (trouble meeting child-related expenses: medical care, food, childcare, etc.); limited child healthcare access (uninsurance during past 12-months and missed /delayed healthcare); and single parenting; and cumulative sources of distress.

Results. About 40% of mothers report financial difficulties, 17% report uninsurance, 13% indicate missed/delayed healthcare, and 11% are single parents. Controlling for demographic covariates, mothers with financial difficulties have 2.3 (1.6, 3.3) times higher odds of poor MH compared to those without, and single parenting increases the odds 2-fold (OR=2.3 [1.38, 3.73]). Although uninsurance and missed/delayed care are not associated with poor MH, a separate analysis shows mothers with 2 or more sources of distress have 3.3 (2.02, 5.31) times higher odds of poor MH than mothers without any sources of distress.

Conclusions. Results suggest child rearing-related sources of distress are associated with maternal mental health. Strengthening social programs to meet child rearing-related financial and healthcare needs could protect against poor maternal mental health. Since poor maternal mental health also influences parenting behavior and child development, investments in preventing and treating mental health problems may have long-term, multigenerational benefits.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the presentation, the participants of the session will be able to:
• Describe sources of parenting distress that are assoicated with maternal mental health problems (e.g., depression symptoms).
• In mothers of young children, discuss how to screen for depression during clinic visits.
• Articulate and analyze way in which social policy can buffer parenting distress.

Keywords: Women's Health, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.