Mother/Pregnant Teen Communication and Depression

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的目的是研究母亲与青少年沟通在缓解低收入怀孕的墨西哥裔美国青少年向父母身份过渡中的作用，这些青少年利用洛杉矶县的妇女、婴儿和儿童（WIC）营养和健康计划。尽管墨西哥裔美国青少年是青少年怀孕的风险最大的事实，有相对较少的研究，在这些家庭讨论的问题，围绕怀孕和是否与母亲沟通作为一个保护因素，在产后调整的青少年。有证据表明，与母亲的支持和开放的关系，可以帮助青少年在他们的养育和他们的调整，和沟通的意见，可以帮助进一步阐明这种关系。这项拟议的研究将检查观察到的母亲与青少年的沟通（关于性和怀孕的讨论），因为它预测青少年抑郁症，育儿观念，参与育儿和负责任的性行为。对话将根据母亲的沟通方式和对话内容进行编码。怀孕少女及其母亲将在产前接受评估，并在分娩后三个月再次接受评估。这项研究将特别关注文化背景和文化适应的作用，因为它可能会影响家庭就敏感问题进行沟通的方式，也可能与我们的青少年成果有某种关系。青少年的自主性和母亲的社会支持的调节作用也将被审查。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of the study is to examine the role of mother-adolescent communication in easing the transition to parenthood for low-income pregnant Mexican American adolescents who utilize the Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition and health program in Los Angeles County. Despite the fact that Mexican American adolescents are at greatest risk for teen pregnancy, there is relatively little research on the ways in which these families discuss the issues surrounding pregnancy and whether or not communication with mothers serves as a protective factor in the postpartum adjustment of the adolescent. There is evidence to suggest that a supportive and open relationship with mothers can be helpful to adolescents in terms of their parenting and their adjustment, and observations of communication can help to further elucidate this relation. The proposed study will examine observed mother-adolescent communication (discussions about sex and the pregnancy) as it predicts adolescent depression, parenting beliefs, involvement in parenting, and responsible sexual behavior. Conversations will be coded for maternal communication style and the content of the conversations. Pregnant adolescents and their mothers will be assessed prenatally and then again three months after giving birth. The study will pay particular attention to the cultural context and the role of acculturation, as it is likely to affect the ways in which families communicate about sensitive issues and may also have some relationship to our adolescent outcomes. The moderating role of adolescent autonomy and social support from mothers will be also examined.