Improvements in Maternal Depression As a Mediator of Intervention Effects on Early Childhood Problem Behavior

Overview

Journal Dev Psychopathol

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Specialties Psychiatry
Psychology

Date 2009 Apr 3

PMID 19338691

Citations 143

Authors

Daniel S Shaw

Arin Connell

Thomas J Dishion

Melvin N Wilson

Frances Gardner

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Maternal depression has been consistently linked to the development of child problem behavior, particularly in early childhood, but few studies have examined whether reductions in maternal depression serve as a mediator in relation to changes associated with a family-based intervention. The current study addressed this issue with a sample of 731 families receiving services from a national food supplement and nutrition program. Families with toddlers between ages 2 and 3 were screened and then randomized to a brief family intervention, the Family Check-Up, which included linked interventions that were tailored and adapted to the families needs. Follow-up intervention services were provided at age 3 and follow-up of child outcomes occurred at ages 3 and 4. Latent growth models revealed intervention effects for early externalizing and internalizing problems from 2 to 4, and reductions in maternal depression from ages 2 to 3. In addition, reductions in maternal depression mediated improvements in both child externalizing and internalizing problem behavior after accounting for the potential mediating effects of improvements in positive parenting. The results are discussed with respect to targeting maternal depression in future intervention studies aimed at improving early child problem behavior.

Citing Articles

Effect of Model of Neonatal Care on Neurodevelopment at the 18 Month Follow-Up in Moderate and Late Preterm Infants.

Benzies K, Bartram F, McNeil D J Clin Med. 2025; 14(2).

PMID: 39860593 PMC: 11766077. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14020586.

Predictors of Stability/Change in Observed Parenting Patterns Across Early Childhood: A Latent Transition Approach.

Cheng C, Tein J, Shaw D, Wilson M, Lemery-Chalfant K Early Child Res Q. 2024; 70:91-101.

PMID: 39735710 PMC: 11675536. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2024.09.002.

Family Check-Up Online effects on parenting and parent wellbeing in families of toddler to preschool-age children.

Hails K, McWhirter A, Sileci A, Stormshak E Early Child Res Q. 2024; 70:144-153.

PMID: 39430369 PMC: 11485290. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2024.09.009.

Guyon-Harris K, Krans E, Gill A, Karnosh C, Shaw D Infant Ment Health J. 2024; .

PMID: 39118311 PMC: 11806078. DOI: 10.1002/imhj.22132.

Adolescent-onset cannabis use and parenting young children: an investigation of differential effectiveness of a digital parenting intervention.

Hails K, McWhirter A, Sileci A, Stormshak E Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024; 3.

PMID: 38938592 PMC: 11210799. DOI: 10.3389/frcha.2024.1392541.

References

Cutrona C, Troutman B . Social support, infant temperament, and parenting self-efficacy: a mediational model of postpartum depression. Child Dev. 1986; 57(6):1507-18. View

Whiffen V, Gotlib I . Infants of postpartum depressed mothers: temperament and cognitive status. J Abnorm Psychol. 1989; 98(3):274-9. DOI: 10.1037//0021-843x.98.3.274. View

Belsky J . The determinants of parenting: a process model. Child Dev. 1984; 55(1):83-96. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1984.tb00275.x. View

Barlow J, Coren E . Parent-training programmes for improving maternal psychosocial health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000; (4):CD002020. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002020. View

Gardner F, Sonuga-Barke E, Sayal K . Parents anticipating misbehaviour: an observational study of strategies parents use to prevent conflict with behaviour problem children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999; 40(8):1185-96. View

Elgar F, McGrath P, Waschbusch D, Stewart S, Curtis L . Mutual influences on maternal depression and child adjustment problems. Clin Psychol Rev. 2004; 24(4):441-59. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2004.02.002. View

Hay D, Pawlby S, Angold A, Harold G, Sharp D . Pathways to violence in the children of mothers who were depressed postpartum. Dev Psychol. 2003; 39(6):1083-94. DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.39.6.1083. View

Patterson G, DeGarmo D, Forgatch M . Systematic changes in families following prevention trials. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2005; 32(6):621-33. DOI: 10.1023/b:jacp.0000047211.11826.54. View

MacKinnon D, Lockwood C, Hoffman J, West S, Sheets V . A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects. Psychol Methods. 2002; 7(1):83-104. PMC: 2819363. DOI: 10.1037/1082-989x.7.1.83. View

10.

Lapalme M, Hodgins S, Laroche C . Children of parents with bipolar disorder: a metaanalysis of risk for mental disorders. Can J Psychiatry. 1997; 42(6):623-31. DOI: 10.1177/070674379704200609. View

11.

Baydar N, Reid M, Webster-Stratton C . The role of mental health factors and program engagement in the effectiveness of a preventive parenting program for Head Start mothers. Child Dev. 2003; 74(5):1433-53. DOI: 10.1111/1467-8624.00616. View

12.

DelBello M, Geller B . Review of studies of child and adolescent offspring of bipolar parents. Bipolar Disord. 2002; 3(6):325-34. DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-5618.2001.30607.x. View

13.

Sinclair D, Murray L . Effects of postnatal depression on children's adjustment to school. Teacher's reports. Br J Psychiatry. 1998; 172:58-63. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.172.1.58. View

14.

Schafer J, Graham J . Missing data: our view of the state of the art. Psychol Methods. 2002; 7(2):147-77. View

15.

Goodman S, Gotlib I . Risk for psychopathology in the children of depressed mothers: a developmental model for understanding mechanisms of transmission. Psychol Rev. 1999; 106(3):458-90. DOI: 10.1037/0033-295x.106.3.458. View

16.

Dishion T, Shaw D, Connell A, Gardner F, Weaver C, Wilson M . The family check-up with high-risk indigent families: preventing problem behavior by increasing parents' positive behavior support in early childhood. Child Dev. 2008; 79(5):1395-414. PMC: 2683384. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01195.x. View

17.

Shaw D, Dishion T, Supplee L, Gardner F, Arnds K . Randomized trial of a family-centered approach to the prevention of early conduct problems: 2-year effects of the family check-up in early childhood. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2006; 74(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.74.1.1. View

18.

Murray L, Hooper R, Cooper P . The impact of postnatal depression and associated adversity on early mother-infant interactions and later infant outcome. Child Dev. 1996; 67(5):2512-26. View

19.

Shaw D, BELL R . Developmental theories of parental contributors to antisocial behavior. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1993; 21(5):493-518. DOI: 10.1007/BF00916316. View

20.

Shaw D, Gilliom M, Ingoldsby E, Nagin D . Trajectories leading to school-age conduct problems. Dev Psychol. 2003; 39(2):189-200. DOI: 10.1037//0012-1649.39.2.189. View