Poster #152 - The Effects of Maternal Parenting Behavior, Stress, and Depression on Infant Chronic Health Problems

• In Event: 3-053 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Previous research has demonstrated that maternal parenting stress and depression are associated with infant physical health (Cousino & Hazen, 2013; Rahman et al., 2004). Yet not all infants whose mothers are highly stressed or depressed experience chronic health problems, and little is known about the conditions under which parenting stress and depression contribute to infant health outcomes. We explore maternal responsiveness and positive parenting practices as moderators of the associations among maternal depressive symptoms, parenting stress, and infant chronic health problems.

The current sample is drawn from an ongoing study of early adversity and maternal-child health (n=295 mother-infant dyads). Mothers ranged in age from 18-44 years (Mean = 26 years) and were racially and ethnically diverse (40% Hispanic; 24% white, 19% black, 7% Biracial, 32% other races). Sixty-one percent of mothers had less than or equal to a high school degree, 66% of the women were unemployed in pregnancy, and 44% were first time mothers. Fifty-four percent of infants were female.

At six months postpartum, mothers reported on their parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index: Short Form; Abidin, 1995), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; Kroenke et al., 2001), and parenting behavior including maternal non-responsiveness (Maternal Responsiveness Questionnaire; Leerkes, 2016) and positive parenting practices (Parenting Practices Questionnaire; Shepard et al., 2010). Mothers also completed a semi-structured interview to assess infant health problems (e.g. respiratory issues, GI issues, skin issues, etc.) during the first six months of life. Interviews were coded based on group consensus and a total score for infant chronic health problems was calculated.

Maternal parenting stress and depressive symptoms were not associated with infant chronic health problems in simple correlations. However, parent behavior moderated these associations. In multiple regression analyses, there was a significant interaction of maternal parenting stress and maternal non-responsiveness in the prediction of infant chronic health problems (B = .21, p = .014). As illustrated in Figure 1, at high levels of maternal non-responsiveness, parenting stress was positively associated with infant chronic health problems (B = .20, p = .04). However, at low levels of non-responsiveness this association was not significant (B = -.10, p = .346). There was also a significant interaction of maternal depressive symptoms and positive parenting practices in the prediction of infant chronic health problems (B = -.23, p = .004). As illustrated in Figure 2, at low levels of positive parenting, maternal depressive symptoms were positively associated with infant chronic health problems (B = .36, p = .004). However, at high levels of positive parenting, this association was not significant (B = -.18, p = .147).

Taken together, these results suggest that maternal behavior buffers the effects of parenting stress and maternal depressive symptoms on infant health problems. Our findings extend those focusing on interactions of parental emotions and behavior in the prediction of infant psychosocial outcomes to focus on infant physical health. Findings from this study indicate that targeting parenting behavior and reducing parenting stress and depressive symptoms may improve physical health outcomes among infants developing in high-adversity contexts.

Authors

• Laura Frank, Bradley/Hasbro Research Center
  Presenting Author

• Kristyn Wong, Brown University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Brittney Josefson, Bradley Hospital
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ronald Seifer, Brown University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Stephanie H. Parade, Bradley Research Center/Brown University
  Non-Presenting Author