Poster #94 - Family Cohesion as a Moderator Between Maternal and Child Depressive Symptoms During Deployment

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Family Context & Processes

Integrative Statement

Since September 11, 2001, about 2.77 million service members have been deployed in the Global War on Terror. Approximately 41% of these Service Members have children, causing over 1.7 million children to be at heightened risk for negative outcomes. In civilian and military-connected families, previous research indicates maternal mental health is a significant contributor to children’s adaption. Specifically, maternal psychopathology has been associated with child internalizing/externalizing difficulties and lowered academic performance. Negative maternal mental health and depression has also been found to decrease family functioning and cohesion. Given the importance of family cohesion for positive outcomes (e.g. peer acceptance, academic achievement, fewer aggressive behaviors, and lower internalizing/externalizing problems), it is possible family cohesion may buffer young children from the negative effects of poor maternal mental health. This study examined the potential role of family cohesion in moderating associations between maternal depression and child internalizing symptoms over the first three months of deployment. We anticipated higher levels of family cohesion would allow children to function better in contexts of high maternal depression.
Families with a deploying Marine, child between ages 3 and 7, and married relationships were recruited to participate in a longitudinal study designed to follow families over deployment. Children were on average 5 years and 9 months (SD = 12 months) and 55% female. Mothers were on average 32.2 years of age (SD = 2.3 years). The current study examines the pre- and mid-deployment time points. Mother’s depressive symptoms were examined with the CESD, children’s depressive symptoms were measured with the CBCL, and family cohesion was measured via maternal report on FACES II.
Hayes PROCESS procedures were used for examining moderation. Children’s internalizing symptoms prior to deployment were covaried so changes in internalizing symptoms over the first three months of deployment served as the outcome measure. Results indicated maternal depression and family cohesion were significant direct predictors of change in children’s internalizing symptoms B = 9.04, t = 2.96, p <.01 and B = -1.97, t = -3.65, p< .01 respectively. Additionally, the interaction between maternal depression and family cohesion was significant with B = .17, t = 3.06, p< .01, R2Δ = .13, F(1, 17) = 9.35, p< .01. Examination of simple slopes indicated that at low levels of family cohesion there was no difference in child depression at high and low levels of maternal depressive symptoms; however, at high levels of family cohesion, high maternal depressive symptoms was associated with significantly higher rates of child internalizing symptoms compared to lower maternal depressive symptoms b = .72, t = 2.83, p < .05.
In contrast to predictions, these findings suggest that in military families, in the context of deployment, higher cohesion may exacerbate exposure to poor maternal mental health and increase children’s risk for negative outcomes. Further analyses will examine the implications of family cohesion for other child outcomes and examine the longer term implications across the course of deployment to reintegration.

Authors

• Angela Jakubik, Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute
  Presenting Author

• Julie Wargo Aikins, Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute
  Non-Presenting Author

• Deane Aikins, Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anna Smith, Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute
  Non-Presenting Author