Younger mothers at greater risk of depression during pregnancy

Younger mothers at greater risk of depression during pregnancy, study claims. Younger mothers are at greater risk of suffering depression, both when they are pregnant and after they give birth, according to a study.

Young mothers need greater support, the study found. Photo Jonathan Lodge

Researchers warn that maternal mental illness will also affect their babies and put them in danger of developing emotional difficulties.

It is feared the problem could be particularly bad in Britain, which has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe with more than 40 in every 1,000 girls under 18 conceiving.

Lead author Cerith Waters, a researcher at the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, said: "Young mums can be very vulnerable and it is clear from these results that they need much more support, not only after the birth, but before as well.

"Programmes aimed at helping young mothers need to be multifaceted, and they need to begin during pregnancy in order to address both the mothers and the child's needs."

His research, presented at a British Psychological Society conference at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, analysed figures from the South London Child Development Study.

In total 180 families took part in interviews and psychological assessments over 16 years to determine the prevalence of maternal mental illness and its effects on children.

The study found that women who gave birth in their teenage years or their early 20s were more likely to suffer from depression during and after pregnancy than those who became mothers later in life.

It concluded that this difference partly accounted for the higher rates of emotional problems and cognitive deficits in their children. ( telegraph.co.uk )