Risk Factors of Maternal Mental Health and Parenting functioning: My Sister's Keeper
Background: Maternal mental health is an urgent public health problem, not only for the adverse physical, social and emotional effects it has on mothers, but for the tremendous deleterious effects it has on their children. Living in disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with adverse mental health; however, it is not clear how it affects on maternal mental health and parenting functioning yet. Methods: A survey formative study to identify factors that predict maternal mental health and parenting functioning was conducted among female residents in West End Community, a disadvantaged community in Birmingham, in 2013. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were conducted. Results: Among 179 participants, 100% were African American, with mean age of 43.3(SD=14.5, range=20-87), 14.5% employed, 81% married/living with partner, 78% low income(<$20,000), 64% ≤high school education, 38% having insurance with mental-health referrals/treatment covered, and average depression symptom score of 8.3(SD=7.023) on a 0-24 scale. Education(p=.006) and financial difficulties(p=.008) had significant influence on coping self-efficacy. Childhood family experience(e.g. family environment and relationship with family members) had significant influence on coping(p=.001), depression coping(p=.017), and parenting(p<.0001) self-efficacies. Current stress experience (e.g. worries, daily bad experience, bad neighborhood experience) had significant influence on coping(p<.0001) and depression coping(p=.045) self-efficacies, and parenting functions (parenting self-efficacy(p=.005) and positive parenting practices(p=.015)). Social perceptions(e.g. perceived support, responsibility, being African American) had significant impact on coping self-efficacy (p<.0001) and parenting functions(parenting self-efficacy(p=.015) and positive parenting practices(p=.041)). Conclusion: Among women living in disadvantaged community, their childhood family experience, current stress experience and social perceptions have important roles in predicting maternal mental health and parenting functioning.
