scholarly journals Income disparity in school readiness and the mediating role of perinatal maternal mental health: a longitudinal birth cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. Law ◽  
R. Aishworiya ◽  
S. Cai ◽  
A.-A. Bouvette-Turcot ◽  
B. F. P. Broekman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
School Readiness ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Growth Curve ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Readiness Skills ◽  
Pregnant Mothers

Abstract Aims There is compelling evidence for gradient effects of household income on school readiness. Potential mechanisms are described, yet the growth curve trajectory of maternal mental health in a child's early life has not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to examine the relationships between household incomes, maternal mental health trajectories from antenatal to the postnatal period, and school readiness. Methods Prospective data from 505 mother–child dyads in a birth cohort in Singapore were used, including household income, repeated measures of maternal mental health from pregnancy to 2-years postpartum, and a range of child behavioural, socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes from 2 to 6 years of age. Antenatal mental health and its trajectory were tested as mediators in the latent growth curve models. Results Household income was a robust predictor of antenatal maternal mental health and all child outcomes. Between children from the bottom and top household income quartiles, four dimensions of school readiness skills differed by a range of 0.52 (95% Cl: 0.23, 0.67) to 1.21 s.d. (95% CI: 1.02, 1.40). Thirty-eight percent of pregnant mothers in this cohort were found to have perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms in the subclinical and clinical ranges. Poorer school readiness skills were found in children of these mothers when compared to those of mothers with little or no symptoms. After adjustment of unmeasured confounding on the indirect effect, antenatal maternal mental health provided a robust mediating path between household income and multiple school readiness outcomes (χ2 126.05, df 63, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.031, CFI = 0.980, SRMR = 0.034). Conclusions Pregnant mothers with mental health symptoms, particularly those from economically-challenged households, are potential targets for intervention to level the playing field of their children.

Integrating Maternal Mental Health Care in the Pediatric Medical Home: Treatment Engagement and Child Outcomes

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1148-1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary C. Kimmel ◽  
Rheanna E. Platt ◽  
Danielle N. Steinberg ◽  
Fallon Cluxton-Keller ◽  
Lauren M. Osborne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Medical Home ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Treatment Engagement ◽  
Home Treatment ◽  
Pediatric Medical Home

Maternal Mental Health and Parenting in Poverty

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
LINDA S. BEEBER ◽  
MARGARET SHANDOR MILES
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Children In Poverty ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Quality Of Parenting

Maternal mental health is a key factor affecting the quality of parenting and, ultimately, a child’s developmental outcomes. Thus, the persistence of mental health problems such as chronic depressive symptoms or addiction in low-income mother-child dyads may be the critical determinant of their collective future. This review examines the research conducted by nurses that focuses on maternal mental health, mothering, and child outcomes in the context of rearing children in poverty. Multiple methods were used for the search. Four programs showed evidence of sustained, related studies focused on the mental health of low-income mothers and their parenting. Two of these programs included intervention studies aimed at improving the mental health of mothers and developmental outcomes for their children. There were four newer programs of research in which the research teams had begun to focus on mothers rearing children in poverty and five other researchers who conducted single studies of maternal mental health. Additionally, two investigators focused on mothers who were prisoners, one team focused on homeless mothers, and another on mothers with HIV. Studies were critiqued using a developmental science framework. Studies varied widely in the degree to which they used developmentally based conceptual frameworks, designs, and measures. While nurse scientists have made progress in conducting research with mothers rearing children in poverty, there is an urgent need for more developmentally sensitive research aimed at strengthening maternal mental health and assisting mothers to be more effective parents in the midst of the challenges of poverty and welfare reform. By doing so, nursing interventions can improve the child’s developmental outcomes.

scholarly journals Perinatal mental health around the world: priorities for research and service development in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundarnag Ganjekar ◽  
Anilkumar Viswananthan Thekkethayyil ◽  
Prabha S. Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Newborn Health ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Reproductive And Child Health ◽  
Child Health Programme ◽  
Health Programme

Maternal mental health disorders are a significant problem for mother–infant dyads in India, but have not received the attention that they should. However, recent major developments hold promise: the increase in coverage of the District Mental Health Programme; the growing emphasis in public health systems on newborn health; integration of maternal mental health into the Reproductive and Child Health Programme in the state of Kerala; and the Mental Health Care Act 2017, which mandates mother–infant joint care when a mother is admitted for mental illness, will lead to policy changes in services. Innovative implementation and translational research is needed to generate knowledge to strengthen maternal mental healthcare systems and improve maternal and child outcomes. Valuable ‘research rupees’ should be spent on ensuring equity of resources for physical and mental healthcare of mothers and providing optimal environments for every mother–infant dyad.

Evaluating an Intergenerational Model to Explain the Path From Violence Against Mothers to Child Behavior and Academic Outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 730-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lene Symes ◽  
Judith McFarlane ◽  
John Maddoux ◽  
Nina Fredland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Child Behavioral Problems ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

An intergenerational model to explain the long-term effect of partner violence against mothers on child behavior was evaluated 48 months after 278 mothers first sought safe shelter or justice services. Twelve percent reported recent abuse, and six mothers reported severe or extreme danger. Self-efficacy (−.58, p < .05), social support (−28, p < .05), and financial support (−.25) were inversely associated with mental health concerns. Higher maternal mental health concerns (.55, p < .05) and child witnessing abuse (.70, p < .05) were associated with child behavioral problems. Child behavioral problems were inversely associated with child academic functioning (−.22, p < .05). To improve child outcomes, interventions that establish safety for mothers and children and promote maternal mental health are needed.

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