Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context

Objective: To analyze anxiety and depression levels in adolescent and young adult mothers. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted across Brazil’s five regions. A non-probabilistic sample of 1177 adolescent (10–19 years) and young adult (20–29 years) mothers was selected propor...

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Main Authors: Amanda Ferreira de Carvalho, Daniela Dal Forno Kinalski Guaranha, Bruna Marmett, Júlia Mathias Reis, Carmem Lisiane Escouto de Souza, Bruna Silveira da Rosa, Tiago Chagas Dalcin, Sérgio Luis Amantea
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Jornal de Pediatria
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002175572500083X
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author Amanda Ferreira de Carvalho
Daniela Dal Forno Kinalski Guaranha
Bruna Marmett
Júlia Mathias Reis
Carmem Lisiane Escouto de Souza
Bruna Silveira da Rosa
Tiago Chagas Dalcin
Sérgio Luis Amantea
author_facet Amanda Ferreira de Carvalho
Daniela Dal Forno Kinalski Guaranha
Bruna Marmett
Júlia Mathias Reis
Carmem Lisiane Escouto de Souza
Bruna Silveira da Rosa
Tiago Chagas Dalcin
Sérgio Luis Amantea
author_sort Amanda Ferreira de Carvalho
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To analyze anxiety and depression levels in adolescent and young adult mothers. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted across Brazil’s five regions. A non-probabilistic sample of 1177 adolescent (10–19 years) and young adult (20–29 years) mothers was selected proportionally based on regional live birth rates. Data collection (August 2022–May 2023) involved a structured questionnaire assessing mental health (DASS-21), family support, and quality of life. Statistical analyses were performed using RStudio©, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 55465822.0.2003.5086). Results: Depression or anxiety was reported by 22.7 % of both adolescent and young adult mothers, with 7.55 % and 7.07 % diagnosed during pregnancy, respectively. Among affected adolescents, 66.67 % did not seek follow-up care, primarily due to limited healthcare access (29.55 %). Adolescent mothers showed a higher prevalence of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and stress (p = 0.027) postpartum. Depression was associated with a lack of emotional support from the child’s father (p = 0.096), insufficient family caregiving support (p = 0.014), and low perceived quality of life. Conclusion: Adolescent mothers exhibit greater vulnerability to mental disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted psychological and social support during the perinatal period.
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spelling doaj-art-8d5fb8caf9a64c31ba426079d42b5bb52025-08-20T03:17:52ZengElsevierJornal de Pediatria0021-75572025-07-01101460861510.1016/j.jped.2025.03.011Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian contextAmanda Ferreira de Carvalho0Daniela Dal Forno Kinalski Guaranha1Bruna Marmett2Júlia Mathias Reis3Carmem Lisiane Escouto de Souza4Bruna Silveira da Rosa5Tiago Chagas Dalcin6Sérgio Luis Amantea7Ministério da Saúde, Associação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Programa de Desenvolvimento Institucional do SUS (PROADI-SUS), Escritório de Projetos, BrazilMinistério da Saúde, Associação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Programa de Desenvolvimento Institucional do SUS (PROADI-SUS), Escritório de Projetos, BrazilMinistério da Saúde, Associação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Programa de Desenvolvimento Institucional do SUS (PROADI-SUS), Escritório de Projetos, BrazilMinistério da Saúde, Associação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Programa de Desenvolvimento Institucional do SUS (PROADI-SUS), Escritório de Projetos, Brazil; Corresponding author.Ministério da Saúde, Associação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Programa de Desenvolvimento Institucional do SUS (PROADI-SUS), Escritório de Projetos, BrazilAssociação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Instituto de Pesquisa, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilMinistério da Saúde, Associação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Programa de Desenvolvimento Institucional do SUS (PROADI-SUS), Escritório de Projetos, BrazilMinistério da Saúde, Associação Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento, Programa de Desenvolvimento Institucional do SUS (PROADI-SUS), Escritório de Projetos, BrazilObjective: To analyze anxiety and depression levels in adolescent and young adult mothers. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted across Brazil’s five regions. A non-probabilistic sample of 1177 adolescent (10–19 years) and young adult (20–29 years) mothers was selected proportionally based on regional live birth rates. Data collection (August 2022–May 2023) involved a structured questionnaire assessing mental health (DASS-21), family support, and quality of life. Statistical analyses were performed using RStudio©, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 55465822.0.2003.5086). Results: Depression or anxiety was reported by 22.7 % of both adolescent and young adult mothers, with 7.55 % and 7.07 % diagnosed during pregnancy, respectively. Among affected adolescents, 66.67 % did not seek follow-up care, primarily due to limited healthcare access (29.55 %). Adolescent mothers showed a higher prevalence of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and stress (p = 0.027) postpartum. Depression was associated with a lack of emotional support from the child’s father (p = 0.096), insufficient family caregiving support (p = 0.014), and low perceived quality of life. Conclusion: Adolescent mothers exhibit greater vulnerability to mental disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted psychological and social support during the perinatal period.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002175572500083XAdolescent pregnancyPregnancyMental healthDepressionAnxiety
spellingShingle Amanda Ferreira de Carvalho
Daniela Dal Forno Kinalski Guaranha
Bruna Marmett
Júlia Mathias Reis
Carmem Lisiane Escouto de Souza
Bruna Silveira da Rosa
Tiago Chagas Dalcin
Sérgio Luis Amantea
Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context
Jornal de Pediatria
Adolescent pregnancy
Pregnancy
Mental health
Depression
Anxiety
title Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context
title_full Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context
title_fullStr Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context
title_full_unstemmed Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context
title_short Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context
title_sort mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers the brazilian context
topic Adolescent pregnancy
Pregnancy
Mental health
Depression
Anxiety
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002175572500083X
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