Decision making and depressive symptoms in black and white multigenerational teen-parent families

J Fam Psychol. 2000 Dec;14(4):556-69.

Abstract

This study investigated correlates of depressive symptoms among 56 (30 Black and 26 White) low-income, coresiding teenage mothers and their mothers (referred to as grandmothers). Racial differences in teenage mothers' and grandmothers' reports of decision making and depressive symptoms and in the association of decision making with depressive symptoms were explored. Racial differences in levels of depressive symptoms emerged for grandmothers but not for teens. There were no significant differences in levels of decision making; however, the relation of decision making to depressive symptoms differed by racial group. Among White families, greater teen participation in decision making was negatively associated with teenage mothers' depressive symptoms. Among Black families, the opposite was found. A similar pattern of effects was observed for grandmothers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • Decision Making*
  • Depression / ethnology*
  • Female
  • Health Policy
  • Humans
  • Intergenerational Relations* / ethnology*
  • Midwestern United States
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Poverty / psychology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence / psychology*
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • White People / psychology*