Early attachment quality may be a lasting source of vulnerability or protection in children’s development. In this study, we examine whether attachment quality at age three moderates the impact of subsequent exposure to maternal depression (at age five or nine) on children’s externalizing symptoms at age nine. The sample included 1,917 low-income families (mean child age = 9.28; 55.9% African-American, 20.6% White, 20.0% Latina, 3.5% Other) from the Fragile Families and Child Well Being Study. At age three, 23.9% of children were categorized as insecurely attached based on maternal report of their child’s attachment behaviors. At age nine, mothers, teachers, and children reported on the child’s externalizing behaviors. Mothers also completed measures of maternal depression at child age three, five, and nine. Controlling for age three externalizing (by maternal report) and age three maternal depression as well as various demographic factors, attachment quality interacted with exposure to subsequent maternal depression in predicting externalizing behaviors at age nine. Interaction effects were evident in mother, teacher, and child report of externalizing. Across all three reporters, exposure to maternal depression was associated with greater externalizing behaviors in children who exhibited insecure attachment behaviors at age three. These findings highlight the potential benefit of interventions to improve early parent–child relationships for families at elevated risk because of maternal mental health.

早期依恋质量可能是儿童发展中脆弱性或保护的持久来源。在这项研究中，我们检查了三岁时的依恋质量是否会减轻随后暴露于母亲抑郁症（五岁或九岁）对九岁时儿童外化症状的影响。样本包括来自脆弱家庭和儿童健康研究的 1,917 个低收入家庭（平均儿童年龄 = 9.28 岁；55.9% 非裔美国人，20.6% 白人，20.0% 拉丁裔，3.5% 其他）。在三岁时，根据母亲对孩子依恋行为的报告，23.9% 的儿童被归类为不安全依恋。在九岁时，母亲、老师和孩子们报告了孩子的外化行为。母亲还完成了对 3、5 和 9 岁儿童母亲抑郁的测量。控制三岁外化（根据母亲报告）和三岁母亲抑郁以及各种人口统计因素，依恋质量与随后母亲抑郁的暴露相互作用，以预测 9 岁时的外化行为。交互作用在母亲、老师和孩子的外化报告中很明显。在所有三位记者中，暴露于母亲抑郁症与在三岁时表现出不安全依恋行为的儿童的更大外在行为有关。这些发现强调了干预措施对改善因母亲心理健康而处于高危家庭的早期亲子关系的潜在益处。在预测 9 岁时的外化行为时，依恋质量与暴露于随后的母亲抑郁症相互作用。交互作用在母亲、老师和孩子的外化报告中很明显。在所有三位记者中，暴露于母亲抑郁症与在三岁时表现出不安全依恋行为的儿童的更大外在行为有关。这些发现强调了干预措施对改善因母亲心理健康而处于高危家庭的早期亲子关系的潜在益处。在预测 9 岁时的外化行为时，依恋质量与暴露于随后的母亲抑郁症相互作用。交互作用在母亲、老师和孩子的外化报告中很明显。在所有三位记者中，暴露于母亲抑郁症与在三岁时表现出不安全依恋行为的儿童的更大外在行为有关。这些发现强调了干预措施对改善因母亲心理健康而处于高危家庭的早期亲子关系的潜在益处。在三岁时表现出不安全依恋行为的儿童中，暴露于母亲抑郁症与更大的外化行为有关。这些发现强调了干预措施对改善因母亲心理健康而处于高危家庭的早期亲子关系的潜在益处。在三岁时表现出不安全依恋行为的儿童中，暴露于母亲抑郁症与更大的外化行为有关。这些发现强调了干预措施对改善因母亲心理健康而处于高危家庭的早期亲子关系的潜在益处。