A 15-year Longitudinal Study of Black and Latinx Maternal Depressive Symptom Trajectory Patterns: Antecedents and Consequences for Mothers and Adolescent Offspring

In the U.S. about 1 in 9 new mothers experience elevated depression symptoms. Black and Latinx mothers are disproportionately affected by depression and they are less likely to receive the needed professional help or treatment. A number of studies have reported the correlates and consequences of maternal depression for women and their offspring during infancy and childhood. However most only used cross-sectional or short-term longitudinal data. Thus little is known about how long-term maternal depression develops nor the long-term impacts on mothers and offspring by adolescence. As specified in Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Strategic Research Issue there is a strong need to 'increase research on the identification of critical/sensitive periods across the life course that impact health outcomes' (Principle 3.1) and to 'promote the health and well-being of women of childbearing age' (Goal 2).

Goals and objectives:

The overall goal of this study is to employ a life course person-centered development approach to elucidate risk and project factors of the long-term changes in maternal depression as well as the associated maternal and adolescent outcomes with specific focus on Black and Latinx populations. The objectives are across race/ethnicity (1) identify the long-term maternal depression trajectory patterns for 15 years postpartum; (2) examine how the maternal depression trajectory patterns are associated with employment length of maternity leave welfare and insurance; (3) investigate the effects of the maternal depression trajectory patterns on adolescent offspring.

Proposed data sets and target populations:

The project will use a longitudinal nationally representative dataset collected by Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). The FFCWS oversampled children who were born to unmarried mothers who are at higher risk for breaking up with partners and living in poverty compared to others. Thus the data is particularly useful for the better understanding of the special challenges of highly vulnerable mothers and their children. The FFCWS collected data from 4898 mothers during 6 waves: birth 1 year- 3 year- 5 year- 9 year- and at a 15 year-follow-up. The mean age of the mothers at the beginning of the study was 25.3 + 6 years (range: 15-43 years). Approximately 48% non-Latinx Black 27% were Latinx and 21% were non Latinx white.

Products:

We will disseminate our findings by three peer-review publications one research presentation at a national scientific conference MCH provider tip sheets/fact sheets one translational presentation at a practitioner/provider conference presentation at the webcasts one presentation at the 'virtual End of Project Presentation (Research Festival) and webcasts and social media posts. Our dissemination plan targets to a wide range of stakeholders including policy makers Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) staff health practitioners MCH service provides advocacy groups professionals work with Black and Latinx groups and general public (especially families and mothers) with the ultimate goal of supporting the improvement of maternal and child health outcomes.

Evaluation:

Throughout the study the PI Co-I and Dissemination Advisor will undertake continual evaluation and modifications as necessary to ensure project successful. We will reach out to MCH-related organizations to establish partnerships and seek for feedback on our dissemination materials (such as fact sheets/tip sheets) to ensure that the findings is translated into practical and relevant information to our target audience.