Maternal and Paternal Depressive Symptoms, Home Learning Environment, and Children’s Early Literacy

The present study examined the influence of mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms on children’s early literacy skills. Home learning-related parenting (HLE) was examined as a mediator of these associations. Families (N = 465) were recruited through preschools. Results indicate an actor effect of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child psychiatry and human development 2019-08, Vol.50 (4), p.681-691
Main Authors: Nuttall, Amy K., Froyen, Laura C., Skibbe, Lori E., Bowles, Ryan P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Child & adolescent psychiatry
Child and School Psychology
Child, Preschool
Children
Day care centers
Depression - diagnosis
Depression - psychology
Family Health
Female
Humans
Learning
Learning activities
Learning environment
Literacy
Literacy - psychology
Literacy skills
Male
Maternal Behavior - psychology
Mental depression
Mothers
Original Article
Parent-Child Relations
Parenting - psychology
Parents & parenting
Paternal Behavior - psychology
Paternal depression
Psychiatry
Psychology
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Summary:The present study examined the influence of mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms on children’s early literacy skills. Home learning-related parenting (HLE) was examined as a mediator of these associations. Families (N = 465) were recruited through preschools. Results indicate an actor effect of fathers’, but not mothers’, depressive symptoms on HLE parenting such that fathers who reported more depressive symptoms engaged in fewer HLE activities. A partner effect of fathers’ depressive symptoms on HLE parenting indicated that higher levels of fathers’ depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of mothers’ home learning activities. Finally, fathers’ depressive symptoms negatively related to children’s early literacy skills indirectly through mothers’ HLE parenting. Findings highlight a process of negative effect of parent depressive symptoms on children’s early literacy and emphasize including both mothers and fathers in future research concerned with the influence of parents’ depressive symptoms on children’s development.
ISSN:0009-398X
1573-3327
DOI:10.1007/s10578-019-00872-x