Acculturation Patterns and Depressive Symptoms among Low-income Pregnant Latina Women

This article examined the relationship between levels of acculturation and depression among pregnant Latina women. Among child bearing Latinas, higher acculturation has been found to be significantly associated with increased mental health problems (Acevado, 2000). The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between acculturation levels and the prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms among pregnant Puerto Rican women. Methods A secondary data analysis was conducted using a sample of 138 pregnant participants who were screened utilizing the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Acculturation indicators used were sociodemographic data such as language preference, language of interview and country of birth. Results Women who scored ≥ 21 (on CES-D) were classified as having moderate to high depressive symptoms. The overall findings suggest that Latina pregnant women who identified themselves as Puerto Rican were more likely to report elevated levels of depression than other Latinas.