Transactions between maternal and child depressive symptoms emerge early in life
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Date of publication, distribution, etc.
2022.
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General note
/pmc/articles/PMC7044043/
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General note
/pubmed/31453717
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Summary, etc.
OBJECTIVE: Maternal depression is a robust risk factor for children's internalizing symptoms, however the intergenerational transmission of mood disorders is likely more complex than unidirectional, parent-directed effects. Theoretical models support transactional associations between maternal and child symptomatology over time, but have not been well examined, especially in younger, high-risk samples. The present investigation examined predictive transactional relations between maternal depression and children's internalizing in toddlerhood and early childhood using a cross-lagged panel model. METHOD: Participants were 162 low-income, largely racial/ethnic minority mothers and their offspring (32% African American, 16% White, 52% Multiethnic/Other; 53% female) who were assessed when children were 18 months and 4 years old. RESULTS: There were significant cross-sectional relations between maternal depressive and child internalizing symptoms when children were 18 months, but not 4 years of age. Cross-lagged associations were evident such that maternal depression symptoms at 18 months were positively associated with internalizing symptoms among children at 4 years, adjusting for prior maternal symptom levels and the cross-sectional correlations between maternal-child symptoms at 18 months. Within the same model, children's internalizing symptoms at 18 months were also positively associated with maternal depressive symptoms at 4 years, adjusting for prior child symptom levels and cross-sectional correlations. CONCLUSIONS: This study is among the first to demonstrate that transactional relations between maternal and child mood symptoms occur as early as toddlerhood/early childhood. Findings highlight the potential utility of inclusive, family-focused interventions that support both parents and children in the treatment of early emotional problems.
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Terms governing use and reproduction
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en
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