Poster #56 - Examining the Effects of Maternal Depression on Developmental Outcomes for Preschoolers in an Impoverished Population

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

BACKGROUND: Maternal depression negatively affects maternal parenting behaviors and mother-child interactions (Cummings & Davies, 1994; Lovejoy, 2000). Maternal depression increases a child’s risk of adverse outcomes, including antisocial and aggressive behaviors (Kim-Cohen, et. al., 2005) and cognitive and social developmental delays (Sohr-Preston & Scaramella, 2006). However, the scope of this relationship varies with timing, chronicity, and severity of the mother’s depression, with the age of the child, and with the presence of co-morbid risk factors such as family poverty and maternal education (Brennan, et. al. 2000).
Long-term effects of maternal post-partum and early-infancy depression on the child have been demonstrated (Cogill, et. al., 1986). Immediate effects of concurrent maternal depression are noted (Abdollahi, et. al., 2016; McLearn, 2006) but not well established. Families enrolled in the Child Health Investment Partnership of the Roanoke Valley (CHIP) comprise an impoverished, at-risk population in which maternal depression and child development have not been closely studied.
OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study examines the relationship between concurrent maternal depression and developmental outcomes for preschool children within families enrolled in CHIP. We hypothesized that concurrent maternal depression would negatively impact personal, social, and emotional child developmental outcomes at 48 months and 60 months. We also hypothesized that maternal demographics such as race, education level, and marital status would differ significantly between non-depressed and depressed mothers.
METHODS: Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) assessment scores of 456 48-month children and 374 60-month children were matched to their mothers’ most concurrent Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) scores (Radloff, 1977) and maternal demographic data. Bivariate correlation assessed the relationship between maternal CES-D scores and each individual ASQ48 and ASQ60 domain scores. Independent samples t-tests of means were used to analyze the mean difference of individual ASQ48 and ASQ60 domain scores between non-depressed and depressed mothers. Chi square analysis was used to analyze the differences in maternal characteristics between non-depressed and depressed mothers.
RESULTS: More than 25% of concurrent maternal CES-D scores in both the ASQ48 and ASQ60 samples reflected symptomatic depression. Maternal depression was significantly correlated to 5 of 6 ASQ48 domains (p < 0.01) and 2 of 6 ASQ60 domains (p < 0.10). There was a significant difference of means in 5 of 6 ASQ48 domains and 2 of 6 ASQ60 domains between children of non-depressed and depressed mothers (see t-test results in tables 1 and 2). Gross Motor development was not significantly impacted in either sample. There was a significant relationship between maternal depression status and primary language in the home using chi square analysis. There was no such relationship between maternal depression and maternal race, education level, or marital status.
CONCLUSIONS/FUTURE WORK: The significant relationship between maternal depression and child developmental outcomes was stronger at 48 months than at 60 months. Examination of the relationship at 36 months is a consideration, as is a longitudinal study design linking ASQ 48-month and ASQ 60-month scores. Data quality and collection improvement at CHIP will be pertinent to implementation of future interventions for the mother and child.

Authors

• Shivani Patel, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
  Presenting Author

• Maria Stack Hankey, Virginia Tech
  Non-Presenting Author

• Denise Friedman, Virginia Tech
  Non-Presenting Author

• Robin Haldiman, Child Health Investment Partnership
  Non-Presenting Author