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Validation of Edinburgh postnatal depression scale for adolescent mothers

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Abstract

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale has widespread use internationally with adult women, but few psychometric properties have been described for samples of adolescent mothers. The purpose of this paper is to validate the psychometric properties of the EPDS in a sample of adolescent mothers (n = 149) in a southern, urban area of the United States. Internal consistency reliability was .88. Principal components analysis supported a two factor structure accounting for 60% of variance. Results of item response theory analysis suggest that the EPDS and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale have similar psychometric properties. This data can be used to provide evidence of construct validity of the EPDS. The study provides a foundation for further psychometric testing of the instrument.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing; School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA

    M. Cynthia Logsdon

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA

    Wayne M. Usui

  3. Measured Progress, Dover, New Hampshire, USA

    Michael Nering

Authors
  1. M. Cynthia Logsdon
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  2. Wayne M. Usui
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  3. Michael Nering
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Correspondence to M. Cynthia Logsdon.

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Logsdon, M.C., Usui, W.M. & Nering, M. Validation of Edinburgh postnatal depression scale for adolescent mothers. Arch Womens Ment Health 12, 433–440 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0096-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0096-z

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