The relationship between depression and other psychosocial problems in a sample of adolescent pregnancy termination patients

At-risk adolescents experience troubling levels of depression but there is a dearth of research related to the levels of depression and associated psychosocial problems experienced by adolescent abortion patients. The relationship between depression and 16 other psychosocial life problems is examined in a sample of adolescent pregnancy termination patients. Using the Multidimensional Adolescent Assessment Scale (MAAS), depression and related psychosocial problems are assessed in a sample of 120 U. S. abortion patients ages 14-21. In general, patients scoring above the clinical cutscore for depression also reported higher levels of psychosocial problems in the other areas. Depression was significantly associated with problems with self-esteem, stress, guilt and confused thinking. Implications for practice and research are discussed.