Maternal mental health and early childhood development: Exploring critical periods and unique sources of support

• Published in: Infant mental health journal 2021-07, Vol.42 (4), p.603-615
• Main Authors: Farewell, Charlotte V., Melnick, Emily, Leiferman, Jenn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child development; Childhood; depresión posterior al parto; desarrollo socioemocional; dépression postpartum; Développement socio‐émotionnel; early childhood; frühe Kindheit; Mental depression; Mental health; Mothers; Parent-child relations; petite enfant; postpartale Affektstörungen; postpartale Depression; Postpartum depression; postpartum mood disorders; social emotional development; Sozial‐emotionale Entwicklung; temprana niñez; trastornos de estado anímico posteriores al parto; troubles de l'humeur postpartum; النمو العاطفي الاجتماعي، الطفولة المبكرة، اضطرابات المزاج بعد الولادة، اكتئاب ما بعد الولادة; 产后情绪障碍; 产后抑郁; 幼儿期; 幼児期; 産後気分障害; 産後鬱; 社交情感发展; 社会的情緒発達
• ISSN: 0163-9641; 1097-0355
• DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21925

Background The objective of this study was to explore associations between maternal depression and anxiety during early sensitive periods, child social–emotional and behavioral problems and the moderating roles of financial, instrumental, and partner emotional support. Methods Analyses was conducted using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Hierarchical linear regression modeling was used to explore associations between maternal depression and anxiety at 1‐ and 3‐years postpartum, three unique types of social support, and childhood behavioral problems at 5‐years of age (n = 2,827). Results Mothers who were depressed at one or both timepoints, compared to nondepressed mothers, reported higher externalizing behavioral problems scores of 1.96 and 2.90, and internalizing behavioral problems scores of 1.16 and 2.20, respectively, at 5‐years of age (both p