Back to Search
Start Over
Mental Health Distress and Delayed Contraception Among Older Adolescents and Young Adults.
- Source :
- Journal of Women's Health (15409996); Jul2024, Vol. 33 Issue 7, p870-878, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Background: Symptoms of mental distress increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among older adolescents and young adults. Mental health distress may make it more challenging for young people to seek other needed health care, including contraception. This study explored the association of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress with delays in getting a contraceptive method or prescription. Materials and Methods: Data from a supplementary study (May 15, 2020–March 20, 2023) to a cluster randomized trial in 29 sites in Texas and California were used. The diverse study sample included community college students assigned female at birth of ages 18–29 years (n = 1,665 with 7,023 observations over time). We measured the association of depression (CES-D [Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale]) or anxiety and stress (DASS-21 [Depression Anxiety Stress Scales]) symptoms with delayed contraceptive care-seeking with mixed-effects multivariable regression with random effects for individual and site. We controlled for age and sociodemographic factors important for access to care. Results: Over one-third of participants (35%) reported they delayed getting the contraceptive method they needed. Multivariable regression results showed increased odds of delayed contraceptive care among participants with symptoms of depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27–1.96). Likewise, delays were associated with anxiety and stress symptoms (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.17–1.82). Adolescents were more likely to delay seeking contraception than young adults (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.07–1.63). Conclusions: Results showed a strong association between mental distress and delayed contraception. Interventions are needed to increase contraceptive access for young people delaying care, along with supportive mental health care services, including for adolescents who face elevated odds of delay. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT03519685. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- HEALTH services accessibility
PSYCHOLOGICAL distress
SECONDARY analysis
RESEARCH funding
CENTER for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
MULTIPLE regression analysis
ANXIETY
ODDS ratio
PSYCHOLOGICAL stress
RESEARCH methodology
CONTRACEPTION
TREATMENT delay (Medicine)
COLLEGE students
SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC factors
CONFIDENCE intervals
PSYCHOLOGICAL tests
MENTAL depression
COVID-19 pandemic
ADOLESCENCE
ADULTS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15409996
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Women's Health (15409996)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 178359922
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2023.0549