Open AccessIntegrating Social Epidemiology Into Public Health Research and Practice for Maternal Depression
Author(s) -
Megan V. Smith,
Alisa K. Lincoln
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2010.196576
Subject(s) - public health , mental health , social connectedness , social capital , epidemiology , health promotion , social epidemiology , environmental health , perspective (graphical) , medicine , psychiatry , social determinants of health , psychology , gerontology , public relations , sociology , social psychology , political science , nursing , social science , artificial intelligence , computer science
The impact of maternal depression on women and their families has been well documented. Given the prevalence and impact of this problem, one important strategy is to strengthen and expand our public health approaches. Although principles of social epidemiology are increasingly used in the field of maternal and child health, few public health efforts to address maternal mental health have incorporated ecosocial frameworks such as community connectedness, quality of social relationships, and social capital. One method to augment current public health approaches to maternal depression is through the incorporation of a perspective focusing on community, cohesion, group membership, and connectedness--a concept often described as social capital. We describe the relevance of this ecosocial perspective for mental health promotion programs for mothers.