Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 21, Issue 6, 2019, Pages 1208-1216

Acculturation and Postpartum Depression Among Immigrant Women of Arabic Descent (Article)

Alhasanat-Khalil D.* , Giurgescu C. , Benkert R. , Fry-McComish J. , Misra D.P. , Yarandi H.
  • a College of Nursing, Wayne State University, 5557 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
  • b College of Nursing, Center for Women, Children, and Youth, The Ohio State University, 236 Newton Hall, 1585 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
  • c College of Nursing, Wayne State University, 5557 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
  • d College of Nursing, Wayne State University, 5557 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
  • e Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
  • f College of Nursing, Wayne State University, 5557 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, United States

Abstract

Acculturation has been related to risk of postpartum depression (PPD) among immigrant women globally. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation and PPD symptoms among U.S. immigrant women of Arabic descent. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 115 postpartum immigrant women of Arabic descent. Women completed questionnaires including measures of acculturation [attraction to Arabic culture (AArC), attraction to American culture (AAmC), marginalization] and PPD symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale—EPDS) between 1 and 12 months postpartum. Twenty-five percent of women (n = 29) had EPDS scores ≥ 10 that represent PPD symptoms. Women with higher marginalization reported more PPD symptoms (r =.25, p =.008). None of the acculturation factors correlated with PPD symptoms after adjustment for maternal sociodemographic and health characteristics. Higher education (p =.001), lower gestational age at birth (p <.05), and antenatal anxiety (p <.05) were correlated with PPD symptoms in multivariate analyses. Health care providers should identify and assess immigrant women of Arabic descent for antenatal anxiety as this may identify women at risk for development of PPD symptoms. Future studies need to examine acculturation in relation to mental health among immigrant women of Arabic descent. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

Postpartum depressive symptoms Arabic descent immigrant women Acculturation

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85056857491&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-018-0837-z&partnerID=40&md5=2730d33ec0d4977f18d7e41e40352496
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0837-z
ISSN: 15571912
Original Language: English