This just in: being poor is depressing

This oughta put paid to the idea that postpartum depression just is hormones: Researchers at one of my alma maters, the University of Iowa, have found that poor women (in Iowa) are many times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression than better off women. Yeah, no kidding, being poor is depressing.

Another study by the same researchers found that African-American women are more likely than white women to get depressed after birth, while Latinas are less likely to get depressed. The lead researcher suggested that the differences can be traced to differences in social support.

I find the press release darkly amusing in its bureaucratic caution. “Considered together, the results of both studies highlight … the need for early identification programs.” I picture social workers saying to patients, “I think you should be aware that our data suggest there is a high likelihood that you are poor/black.” If you ask me, the results of the studies highlight the need to end poverty and racism and the way our society isolates mothers.

Which is not to dismiss the program the researchers have created to help depressed women postpartum, called “listening visits,” in which mothers get the chance to talk about their difficulties with a caseworker or nurse. But here again there’s something darkly amusing: The visits were modeled on the “health visitor” provided by Britain’s National Health Service for new mothers, and the Iowa researchers imported Brits to do the listening. Eek—the socialists are coming; don’t tell Aetna, Blue Cross, Kaiser, …

Thanks to the Our Bodies, Ourselves blog for noting this research. The blog’s also got other good stuff.