Few studies have examined how different characteristics of maternal depression may be associated with developmental outcomes among low-income children. The current study prospectively examined whether the timing (pregnancy vs. early postpartum), severity, and chronicity of maternal depression were associated with child cognitive and social-emotional development in two cohorts of primarily low-income Latinx immigrant mothers and their children. Maternal depression was assessed during pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. Child development was assessed up to 5 years postpartum. Results showed that maternal depression experienced during pregnancy was associated with lower child cognitive development, particularly among girls. Additionally, both the timing (pregnancy and early postpartum) and severity/chronicity of maternal depression were each independently associated with lower child social-emotional development. These findings highlight the need for early prevention interventions to help offset the adverse effects of maternal depression on child developmental outcomes in this at-risk population.

很少有研究探讨母亲抑郁症的不同特征如何与低收入儿童的发育结果相关联。目前的研究前瞻性地检查了两组主要是低收入拉丁裔移民母亲及其子女的母亲抑郁症的时间（怀孕与产后早期）、严重程度和长期性是否与儿童认知和社会情感发展相关。在怀孕期间和产后 6 个月评估了母亲抑郁症。对产后 5 年内的儿童发育进行评估。结果表明，母亲在怀孕期间经历的抑郁与儿童认知发展较低有关，尤其是在女孩中。此外，母亲抑郁症的时间（怀孕和产后早期）和严重程度/长期性均与较低的儿童社会情感发展独立相关。这些发现强调了早期预防干预的必要性，以帮助抵消孕产妇抑郁症对这一高危人群儿童发育结果的不利影响。