Mosovsky, Sherri
(2013)
Radicle Moms Study: Minority Stress and Implications for Lesbian Mothers.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
This is the latest version of this item.
Abstract
Millions of Americans are diagnosed with depression each year, costing billions of dollars. Consequences of depression are detrimental to the sufferer and can affect children and significant others, exemplifying the public health significance of this illness. Little is known about depression among mothers who identify as lesbian, even though they may be at an increased risk. The first aim of the Relationships And Depression In Childbearing LEsbian (RADICLE) Moms study was to determine the prevalence rate of depression in a sample of self-identified lesbian women with at least one child under 18 years of age. The second aim was to investigate minority stress to determine if higher levels of social support reduce the effects of gay stress on depression symptoms. Recruitment efforts targeted counties in two states that had marriage equality and two that did not. A comprehensive survey including standardized depression and stress scales were utilized for assessments. One-hundred-thirty-one self-identified lesbian mothers responded via an anonymous Internet survey. Results indicate that 8.4% of the sample reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms; however, limitations of the sample such as privileged demographics suggest that women in the lesbian mother population at large may experience significantly higher rates of symptoms. After controlling for demographic factors, separate multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between depression and social support, gay stress, and general stress. Results show that each significantly predicted depressive symptoms, which implies that increasing social support or reducing general stress or gay stress may alleviate depressive symptoms in this minority population. Recommendations for future research will be proposed.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
27 June 2013 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
29 March 2013 |
| Approval Date: |
27 June 2013 |
| Submission Date: |
2 April 2013 |
| Access Restriction: |
5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
59 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Behavioral and Community Health Sciences |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Maternal depression, lesbian, minority stress |
| Date Deposited: |
27 Jun 2013 18:38 |
| Last Modified: |
01 May 2018 05:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18292 |
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Radicle Moms Study: Minority Stress and Implications for Lesbian Mothers. (deposited 27 Jun 2013 18:38)
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