| The transition to parenthood can be a challenging, stressful period for individuals across a range of social locations (e.g., Cowan and Cowan 1995; Doss, Cicila, Hsueh, Morrison and Carhart 2014). This dissertation research focuses on a key factor that may influence the success of this transition: the age of mothers during the birth of their first child. Although U.S. couples are increasingly delaying entry into parenthood (National Center for Health Statistics 2009), the impact of maternal age on postpartum mental health during this transition remains an understudied area within the social sciences. To address this existing gap in the literature, I examine the relationship between maternal age at first birth and postpartum depression, with a specific focus on the structural and individual level factors that contribute to this relationship. I draw on two social psychological approaches, the life-course perspective and the social structure and personality framework, to highlight the connections between social position and personal resources in the context of this important transition. To examine these theoretical relationships, I analyze data from a national survey on motherhood, Listening to Mothers II: Second National U.S. Survey of Women's Childbearing Experiences (Childbirth Connection 2006). Contrary to my expectations, I found that maternal age was not significantly associated with PPD for the mothers in my sample. My results also suggest that perceptions regarding maternal physical health and baby's physical health, as well as factors associated with the childbirth process, such as experiencing negative feelings during birth and level of perceived control during birth, mattered toward mothers' psychological well-being during this critical transitional period. |
