Interactions between depressed and nondepressed Latina mothers and their premature infants

Latino Adolescents’ Adjustment, Maternal Depressive Symptoms, and the Mother‐Adolescent Relationship*

“…However, maternal depressive symptoms were not related to outsiders’ ratings of maternal behavior during the conflict conversation. This latter finding contrasts the literature on clinically depressed, European American mothers, but is consistent with a study that has examined these associations in Latino families (Ruttenberg et al, 1997). Thus, maternal depressed mood did not seem to be visibly related to Latina mothers’ ability to discuss a conflict issue with their adolescents, but mothers seemed to perceive some disruption to the family system (as assessed by their decrease in family satisfaction) that the raters and adolescents did not.…”

“…As such, Latinas may inhibit their expression of distress while interacting with children in an effort to maintain a harmonious relationship. In addition, familismo and marianismo may make it more likely that Latina mothers, compared to other mothers, will place their needs secondary to the needs of their family, especially their children (Ruttenberg et al, 1997). Taken together, these cultural values may differentially shape how Latina mothers communicate or express their mood to their children.…”

“…Taken together, these cultural values may differentially shape how Latina mothers communicate or express their mood to their children. Within the Latino culture, maternal depression may not extend beyond the woman's own feelings about herself and thereby not impact her ability to create a nurturing environment for her children (Ruttenberg et al, 1997).…”

“…Similarly, little is known about how maternal depressive symptoms relate to the mother‐child relationship in Latino families. Ruttenberg, Finello, and Cordeiro (1997) found that the interactions of depressed Latina mothers and their infants were not significantly different from those of nondepressed mothers. In contrast, Planos, Zayas, and Busch‐Rossnagel (1997) found that depressed Latina mothers praised their children less and gave more negative verbal feedback than nondepressed mothers.…”

Parenting among Mothers with a Serious Mental Illness

“…Mothers with SMI may have difficulty dealing with some but not all developmental phases in their children's lives, specific maternal diagnosis may interact with children's temperament and characteristics, and some diagnoses may be more risk-inducing in some cultural contexts than others (Gelfand & Teti, 1990). Finally, ethnic and racial groups differ in their likelihood of diagnosis for depression and schizophrenia (Garb, 1997;Ruttenberg, Finello, & Cordeiro, 1997), an effect that is as yet poorly understood. Therefore, the current review examines parenting during each phase of childhood (infancy, preschool, primary school, adolescence) separately, attempts to look at both the influence of diagnosis and the developmental needs of the child, and explores what is known about the interplay between child temperament and characteristics and maternal diagnosis.…”