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.
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
Topics
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