Transactional associations of maternal depressive symptoms with child externalizing behaviors are small after age 3

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-308
Author(s):  
Begum Dora ◽  
Nazli Baydar
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Harsh Parenting ◽  
Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Latent Trajectory ◽  
Child Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Transactional Associations ◽  
Child Externalizing

AbstractA large and growing body of research suggests that maternal depressive symptoms and child externalizing behaviors are strongly associated. Theoretical arguments supported by these findings led to the question of whether maternal depressive symptoms are transactionally associated with child externalizing behaviors. Using 5-year nationally representative longitudinal data from Turkey (N = 1,052), we estimated a transactional bivariate autoregressive latent trajectory model addressing this question. This model disaggregated the association of the two processes into two components: (a) the association of the interindividual differences in the trajectories; and (b) the intradyad association of the changes in maternal depressive symptoms with the changes in child externalizing behaviors. Although maternal depressive symptoms were robustly associated with child externalizing behaviors at age 3, the transactional associations of the two processes were small prior to age 5 and absent at ages 5 to 7. Furthermore, maternal harsh parenting did not have a mediating role in the limited transactional association of maternal depressive symptoms with child externalizing behaviors.

scholarly journals Maternal depressive symptoms and children's academic performance: sex differences in the mediating role of school experiences

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Marilyn N. Ahun ◽  
Lamprini Psychogiou ◽  
Frédéric Guay ◽  
Michel Boivin ◽  
Richard E. Tremblay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Peer Victimization ◽  
School Engagement ◽  
School Experiences ◽  
Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Writing Scores

Abstract Background Maternal depressive symptoms (MDSs) are negatively associated with children's academic performance, with stronger effects sometimes reported in boys. However, few studies have tested the mechanisms of this association. We examined the mediating role of school engagement and peer victimization in this association and tested for sex differences. Methods Participants were 1173 families from a population-based longitudinal Canadian study. MDSs were self-reported annually using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (child's age: 5 months to 5 years). Data on mediators (peer victimization, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional school engagement) were reported annually from ages 6–10 by multiple informants including children, parents, and teachers using items from validated scales. Mathematics, reading, and writing exam scores at age 12 were obtained from standardized exams administered by Québec's Ministry of Education and Teaching. Structural equation modeling was used to test mediation by school experiences in boys and girls. Results Exposure to MDSs was negatively associated with mathematics, reading, and writing scores in girls and with mathematics only in boys. Cognitive and behavioral engagement significantly mediated the association between MDSs and mathematics, reading, and writing scores in girls. There were no significant mediators for boys. Conclusions Prevention and intervention strategies aiming to improve school engagement might be beneficial for daughters of mothers experiencing depressive symptoms. Further research is needed to replicate these findings and to identify the mechanisms explaining this association in boys.

scholarly journals Using an adoption–biological family design to examine associations between maternal trauma, maternal depressive symptoms, and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1707-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandria Perez Grabow ◽  
Atika Khurana ◽  
Misaki N. Natsuaki ◽  
Jenae M. Neiderhiser ◽  
Gordon T. Harold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Externalizing Behavior ◽  
Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Maternal Trauma ◽  
Biological Child ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Biological Mother ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

AbstractMaternal trauma is a complex risk factor that has been linked to adverse child outcomes, yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. This study, which included adoptive and biological families, examined the heritable and environmental mechanisms by which maternal trauma and associated depressive symptoms are linked to child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Path analyses were used to analyze data from 541 adoptive mother–adopted child (AM–AC) dyads and 126 biological mother–biological child (BM–BC) dyads; the two family types were linked through the same biological mother. Rearing mother's trauma was associated with child internalizing and externalizing behaviors in AM–AC and BM–BC dyads, and this association was mediated by rearing mothers’ depressive symptoms, with the exception of biological child externalizing behavior, for which biological mother trauma had a direct influence only. Significant associations between maternal trauma and child behavior in dyads that share only environment (i.e., AM–AC dyads) suggest an environmental mechanism of influence for maternal trauma. Significant associations were also observed between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing and externalizing behavior in dyads that were only genetically related, with no shared environment (i.e., BM–AC dyads), suggesting a heritable pathway of influence via maternal depressive symptoms.

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