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Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., Annals PrePrint, published online ahead of print October 22, 2007 doi: 10.1196/annals.1425.008 Copyright © 2007 by the New York Academy of Sciences description
1 School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7460, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-7460, United States 2 Public Policy, The University of Nroth Carolina at Chapel Hill, 201 Abernathy Hall, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States 3 School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#7460, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599-7460, United States
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: beeber{at}email.unc.edu. PrePrint Abstract
Poverty increases maternal stress by heightening exposure to negative life events, job loss, chronic strains, poor housing, dangerous neighborhoods, and conflict with partners, culminating in crippling depressive symptoms, the most prevalent mental health threat. Depressive symptoms interfere with the provision of the strong maternal support needed to counter the hardships of poverty, thus placing infants and toddlers at risk for delayed language, social and emotional development. Initial clinical trials in high-risk mothers have shown promise and successive tests of interventions will be strengthened if mothers who have mental health risks can be accurately targeted for inclusion. This paper reports on a sequential, data-driven process by which high risk mothers were targeted for intervention in two trials currently in progress to reduce depressive symptoms. An iterative process of using data to identify at risk mothers and validate the presence of risk factors helped hone the recruitment and design of the intervention trials. Guidance for further study is offered. Key Words:
MOTHERS, DEPRESSION, POVERTY, INFANTS/TODDLERS, INTERVENTION TRIALS, TARGETING, LOW-INCOME
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