Mental health issues in adolescent mothers and young adult mothers: the Brazilian context

Abstract

Objective  To analyze anxiety and depression levels in adolescent and young adult mothers.

Methods  This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted across Brazil’s five regions. A non-probabilistic sample of 1177 adolescent (10-19 years) and young adult (20-29 years) mothers was selected proportionally based on regional live birth rates. Data collection (August 2022-May 2023) involved a structured questionnaire assessing mental health (DASS-21), family support, and quality of life. Statistical analyses were performed using RStudio©, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CAAE: 55465822.0.2003.5086).

Results  Depression or anxiety was reported by 22.7 % of both adolescent and young adult mothers, with 7.55 % and 7.07 % diagnosed during pregnancy, respectively. Among affected adolescents, 66.67 % did not seek follow-up care, primarily due to limited healthcare access (29.55 %). Adolescent mothers showed a higher prevalence of depression (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and stress (p = 0.027) postpartum. Depression was associated with a lack of emotional support from the child’s father (p = 0.096), insufficient family caregiving support (p = 0.014), and low perceived quality of life.

Conclusion  Adolescent mothers exhibit greater vulnerability to mental disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted psychological and social support during the perinatal period.

Keywords
Adolescent pregnancy; Pregnancy; Mental health; Depression; Anxiety