---
title: What increases depression risk in women of reproductive age? | Niyora
description: Early motherhood, having three or more children, low education, and high premenstrual symptoms increased depression risk. Overall, 32.8% had depression, but o
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/maternal-age-and-number-of-children-are-risk-factors-for-depressive-disorders-in-2013/
---

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- What increases depression risk in women of reproductive age?

Survey study, 2013

# What increases depression risk in women of reproductive age?

Early motherhood, having three or more children, low education, and high premenstrual symptoms increased depression risk. Overall, 32.8% had depression, but only 10.4% received treatment.

 Moderate study design

589 non-pregnant, non-postpartum women of reproductive age

## What they did

Cross-sectional study of 589 non-pregnant, non-postpartum women of reproductive age. Participants completed sociodemographic forms, premenstrual assessments, and depression screening tests. Those screening positive underwent structured interviews.

## What they found

32.8% had depressive disorders. Risk factors were low education levels, early maternal age, having three or more children, and higher premenstrual symptom scores. Only 10.4% of women had follow-up and treatment in a psychiatric clinic.

## What it means for you

Depression is common in reproductive-age women, especially those who had children young or had many children. Most women with depression do not receive treatment. This study was observational, so we cannot know whether PMS causes depression or other factors do.

32.8%

had depressive disorders

10.4%

received psychiatric treatment

3+

children as a risk factor

## About the study

Original title Maternal age and number of children are risk factors for depressive disorders in non-perinatal women of reproductive age Authors Aras N, Oral E, Aydin N et al. Journal International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice Year 2013 Study design Survey study Participants 589 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/13651501.2013.821493](https://doi.org/10.3109/13651501.2013.821493)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Systematic review, 2021

Are there hormone changes that could explain PMDD or depression in women?

Review, 1992

Is PMS really caused by hormones?

Review, 1989

Are mental health conditions linked to the reproductive cycle?

Systematic review, 2022

Does having PMDD increase the risk of depression during pregnancy or after birth?

Review, 2012

Is depression linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause?

Survey study, 1993

Are women with menopause distress more likely to have had past depression linked to their periods?

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