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Associations between maternal and paternal depressive symptoms and early child behavior problems: Testing a mutually
Martina K Narayanan1, Ane Nærde1
1The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development, Postboks 7053 Majorstuen, 0306 Oslo, Norway.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|February 29, 2016
Summary
Maternal depression strongly predicts early child behavior problems. While fathers' depressive symptoms did not predict outcomes initially, changes in fathers' symptoms significantly impacted child aggression over time.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Parental Mental Health
Background:
- Limited research compares maternal and paternal depression's impact on early child behavior.
- Few studies control for the other parent's symptoms or examine longitudinal changes in parental depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the association of mothers' and fathers' depressive symptoms with child behavior problems in early childhood.
- To investigate longitudinal changes in parental depressive symptoms as predictors of child behavior.
Main Methods:
- Examined parental depressive symptoms at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months postpartum.
- Assessed child behavior problems at 48 months.
- Utilized linear growth curve analysis to model parental symptom levels and changes over time.
Main Results:
- Mothers' depressive symptoms at 6 months predicted all child behavior problems at 48 months.
- Fathers' initial depressive symptoms did not predict child behavior problems.
- Changes in fathers' depressive symptoms significantly predicted child aggressive behavior, more so than changes in mothers' symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Mothers' postpartum depressive symptoms are a stronger predictor of early child behavior problems than fathers'.
- Longitudinal changes in fathers' depressive symptoms are uniquely associated with child aggression.
- Clinical practice and future research should address fathers' changing depressive symptoms.
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