Maternal and Paternal Depressive Symptoms and Child Maladjustment: The Mediating Role of Parental Behavior

Abstract

This study examined parental behaviors as mediators in links between depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers and child adjustment problems. Participants were 4,184 parents and 6,048 10- to 15-year-olds enrolled in the 1998 and 2000 cycles of the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. Mothers and fathers self-reported symptoms of depression at Times 1 and 2 and their children assessed parental nurturance, rejection, and monitoring and self-reported internalizing and externalizing problems and prosocial behavior at Time 2. Hierarchical linear modeling showed evidence of mediation involving all three domains of parental behavior. Findings supported the hypothesis that the quality of the child's rearing environment is one mechanism that carries risk to children of depressed parents. Interventions for parents whose symptoms of depression interfere with parenting responsibilities could help reduce the risk of some childhood disorders.

Fathers' Depression Related to Positive and Negative Parenting Behaviors With 1-Year-Old Children

“…Instead, paternal depression was longitudinally associated with the development of difficult child temperament in boys. Moreover, as suggested by studies [9][10][11] in older children, adverse parenting behaviors stemming from paternal depression may be implicated in the development of child behavioral problems and should be further investigated. Third, the FFCWS study used fathers' self-report of parenting behaviors.…”

“…2,3,5 In addition, depression in fathers has been consistently associated with lower psychosocial functioning in children, 3,[6][7][8] an effect mediated in part by the depressed fathers' parenting behaviors. [9][10][11] Notably, the majority of studies regarding the impact of paternal depression on parenting behaviors have been conducted for children older than 1 year of age. 2,[9][10][11] Given the prevalence of depression in fathers during the first year of a child's life, 4,12 and the key developmental processes occurring in very young children, research is needed to understand the impact of paternal depression on parenting during this critical period.…”

“…[9][10][11] Notably, the majority of studies regarding the impact of paternal depression on parenting behaviors have been conducted for children older than 1 year of age. 2,[9][10][11] Given the prevalence of depression in fathers during the first year of a child's life, 4,12 and the key developmental processes occurring in very young children, research is needed to understand the impact of paternal depression on parenting during this critical period. Moreover, recent studies [13][14][15] have suggested that fathers' parenting patterns early in a child's life are predictive of future parenting behaviors.…”

Arrested Motherhood: Parenting, Cognitive Distortions, and Depressive Symptoms in Mothers Being Released from Incarceration

“…Parenting behaviors are assumed to mediate this relation (e.g., Elgar, Mills, McGrath, Waschbusch, & Brownridge, 2007). Because relatively high levels of depression are found among mothers in prison (e.g., Houck & Loper, 2002) depressive symptoms seem to be a plausible contributor to suboptimal parenting by mothers being released from incarceration.…”

Enhancing cross-system collaboration for caregivers at risk for depression

“…Maternal depression poses a serious risk to healthy child development by compromising the quality of the parent-child relationship during critical years of development [17][18][19][20][21]. Moreover, a child's developmental delays can increase maternal stress, ultimately increasing risk for depression [22][23][24] and perpetuating a cycle that affects both mother and child.…”