Childbirth is part of a normal life cycle. As like all other major events in life, it is looked upon by expectant mothers with mixture of anticipation and happy expectation. Although struggles and stress of teenage pregnancy has been studied, only a few literatures can be found on depression, anxiety, and coping strategies of primi-teenage single mothers. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and to identify the coping strategies among primi-teenage single mothers in Ayala District, Zamboanga City. Total count was utilized in the study with 73 respondents passing the inclusion criteria. Most of the respondents were aged 18 to 19 (64.38%). Data gathering was done through a self-administered questionnaire using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Coping Strategies Inventory Tool. Frequencies and percentages were used to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and coping strategies. Results showed 15.07% of primi-teenage single mothers have symptoms of mild depression; 5.48% with moderate depression; 28.77% with mild anxiety and 23.29% with moderate anxiety. Majority of the primi-teenage mothers utilized a positive coping strategy and the three predominant coping strategies used were: cognitive restructuring (32.56%); social support (24.42%), and problem solving (16.28%). In-depth interviews were done on four primi-teenage mothers with symptoms of (1) depression, (2) anxiety, (3) with both depression and anxiety, and (4) without either depression or anxiety. Their experiences and challenges on motherhood were recorded. One out of the four respondents interviewed still had suicidal ideation and one attempted suicide by taking oral drugs but failed. This study concludes that there was a significant prevalence of unresolved anxiety and depression among primi-teenage single mothers even though majority of them were coping positively.

Keyword: Depression, anxiety and coping strategies Primi-teenage single mothers