Inhibitory control as a mediator of bidirectional effects between early oppositional behavior and maternal depression

Maternal depression is an established risk factor for child conduct problems, but relatively few studies have tested whether children's behavioral problems exacerbate mothers' depression or whether other child behavioral characteristics (e.g., self-regulation) may mediate bidirectional eff...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Development and psychopathology 2014-11, Vol.26 (4pt1), p.1129-1147
Main Authors: Choe, Daniel Ewon, Shaw, Daniel S., Brennan, Lauretta M., Dishion, Thomas J., Wilson, Melvin N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - etiology
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - psychology
Behavior disorders
Child development
Child of Impaired Parents - psychology
Child, Preschool
Depression - psychology
Female
Humans
Inhibition (Psychology)
Longitudinal Studies
Mental depression
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers
Mothers - psychology
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychopathology
Regular Articles
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Maternal depression is an established risk factor for child conduct problems, but relatively few studies have tested whether children's behavioral problems exacerbate mothers' depression or whether other child behavioral characteristics (e.g., self-regulation) may mediate bidirectional effects between maternal depression and child disruptive behavior. This longitudinal study examined the parallel growth of maternal depressive symptoms and child oppositional behavior from ages 2 to 5; the magnitude and timing of their bidirectional effects; and whether child inhibitory control, a temperament-based self-regulatory mechanism, mediated effects between maternal depression and child oppositionality. A randomized control trial of 731 at-risk families assessed children annually from ages 2 to 5. Transactional models demonstrated positive and bidirectional associations between mothers' depressive symptoms and children's oppositional behavior from ages 2 to 3, with a less consistent pattern of reciprocal relations up to age 5. Mediation of indirect mother–child effects and child evocative effects depended on the rater of children's inhibitory control. Findings are discussed in regard to how child evocative effects and self-regulatory mechanisms may clarify the transmission of psychopathology within families.
ISSN:0954-5794
1469-2198
DOI:10.1017/S0954579414000613