Maternal depressive symptoms (MDS) have been linked to both child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Theory suggests that child attachment security may be a protective factor against the negative effects of MDS. This study examined child attachment security as a buffer of the link between MDS and child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at two time points in a predominantly African American sample. Participants included mothers (N = 164; M age = 29.68 years; 76% African American) and their preschool-aged children (60% girls; M age = 44.67 months) recruited from four Head Start centers in low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland. MDS were concurrently associated with child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at both time points. No significant main effects of child attachment security on behavior problems emerged; however, child attachment moderated the association between MDS and child internalizing behavior problems at Time 2, such that MDS predicted greater child internalizing problems when attachment security was low, and the effect was attenuated when attachment security was high. No interaction emerged for child externalizing problems. Findings suggest that secure attachment in early childhood can serve as a protective factor in the context of parental risk. We discuss implications for intervention and the intergenerational transmission of psychopathology.

产妇抑郁症状 (MDS) 与儿童内化和外化行为问题有关。理论表明，儿童依恋安全感可能是对抗 MDS 负面影响的保护因素。这项研究在主要为非裔美国人的样本中，在两个时间点检查了儿童依恋安全作为 MDS 与儿童内化和外化行为问题之间联系的缓冲。参与者包括母亲（N = 164；M 年龄= 29.68 岁；76% 为非裔美国人）及其学龄前儿童（60% 为女孩；M 年龄= 44.67 个月）从马里兰州巴尔的摩低收入社区的四个启蒙中心招募。MDS 在两个时间点都与儿童内化和外化行为问题同时相关。没有出现儿童依恋安全对行为问题的显着主效应；然而，儿童依恋在时间 2 调节了 MDS 与儿童内化行为问题之间的关联，使得 MDS 在依恋安全性低时预测更大的儿童内化问题，而在依恋安全性高时效果减弱。儿童外化问题没有出现互动。研究结果表明，儿童早期的安全依恋可以作为父母风险背景下的保护因素。