Background

An intergenerational association between maternal depression and child emotional problems is well established. However, the underlying processes underpinning this association are still unclear, with relatively little attention paid to potential child-driven effects. This study adds to existing research by examining the bidirectional processes between maternal depression, parenting, and child internalizing symptoms.

Methods

A large prospective pregnancy cohort was used (N = 1992). Mothers reported on their depressive symptoms, hostile parenting, child internalizing symptoms, and child effortful control. Data was collected during pregnancy, and at 4 months, 3 years, and 5 years postpartum.

Results

Using a cross-lag analytical approach, results revealed that prenatal and postpartum maternal depression predicted child internalizing problems through an increase in hostile parenting. Child internalizing symptoms predicted increases in subsequent hostile parenting, but not maternal depressive symptoms. Additional moderation analyses revealed that the indirect effect of maternal depression on child internalizing problems through hostile parenting was only significant for children low in effortful control.

Limitations

The study relied on maternal reports of both mother and child symptomology and characteristics. The sample was predominantly white and middle- to high-income.

Conclusions

Hostile parenting is a potential intermediary mechanism explaining the intergenerational transmission of maternal depression to child internalizing problems. Critically, this indirect effect was only significant for children low in effortful control. There was limited support for child evocative effects, with child internalizing symptoms predicting subsequent hostile parenting but not maternal depressive symptoms. Results highlight the need for considering both maternal and child characteristics when treating maternal depression.

中文翻译：

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产妇抑郁，敌对育儿和幼儿情绪问题之间的双向关联：我们所有家庭的研究结果

背景

产妇抑郁与儿童情绪问题之间的代际关联已得到很好的建立。但是，支持这种关联的基本过程仍然不清楚，对潜在的儿童驱动效应的关注相对较少。这项研究通过检查孕产妇抑郁，父母养育和儿童内在症状之间的双向过程，为现有研究提供了补充。

方法

使用了大量的前瞻性队列研究（N = 1992）。母亲报告了他们的抑郁症状，敌对的父母，孩子的内在症状和对孩子的努力控制。在怀孕期间以及产后4个月，3年和5年收集数据。

结果

使用跨时滞分析方法，结果表明，产前和产后产妇抑郁症通过敌对育儿的增加预测了孩子的内在化问题。儿童内在症状预示着随后的敌对育儿现象会增加，但母亲抑郁症状却不会。其他适度分析表明，母性抑郁症通过敌对育儿对儿童内在化问题的间接影响仅对努力控制不足的儿童有意义。

局限性

该研究依赖于母亲关于母婴症状和特征的报道。样本主要是白人和中高收入人群。

结论

敌对育儿是一种潜在的中介机制，可解释代代相传的母亲抑郁症对儿童内在化问题的影响。至关重要的是，这种间接影响仅对努力控制能力较弱的孩子有意义。对儿童唤起作用的支持有限，儿童的内在症状预示着随后的敌对育儿行为，而不是母亲的抑郁症状。结果强调在治疗产妇抑郁时需要同时考虑母婴特征。