Effects of Maternal Depression Indicators on Mothers’ Interaction Behavior

• In Event: Poster Session 07
  In Poster Session: PS 07 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

The mother-child interactions at early childhood are essential to encourage children to become more autonomous, to promote the co-regulation of emotional and behavioral processes, and to build a secure basis for child development (Choe, Olson, & Sameroff, 2014). The maternal and child characteristics influence the establishment of mother-child interactions (Sameroff, 2009). Among the maternal variables that can affect mother-child interactions, maternal mental health stands out, especially indicators of depression (Feng Shaw, Kovacs, Lane, O'Rourke, & Alarcon, 2008). The present study aimed to examine the predictor effect of maternal depression indicators, associated with sociodemographic characteristics, on maternal interactive behavior. The sample included 136 mothers (age mean = 32 years [± 7]) and their 2-to-6-year-old children (age mean = 3 years [± 2]) recruited in the public family health centers and schools. The families were psychosocial vulnerable living in stressful and violent neighborhoods, in a medium-low income country. The mother-child interaction was video recorded in a play-situation and the assessment was performed by a blind researcher through Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO), an analysis system (Roggman, Cook, Innocenti, Norman, & Christiansen, 2013). The maternal depression indicator was assessed using by mother-report using the PHQ-9 - Patient Health Questionnaire (Osório, Mendes, Crippa, & Loureiro, 2009; Spitzer, Kroenke & Williams, 1999). The statistical descriptive analysis, correlation, and the multiple linear regression analysis were performed, accepting the variance inflation factor (VIF) < 2 (SPSS, version 25.0). The level of significance of the study was 5%. The results showed that mothers with lower PHQ-9 score associated with younger children were the best predictors of the PICCOLO-Total score (34% of variability; p < 0.05) and the PICCOLO-Encouragement score (31% of variability; p < 0.01). Moreover, the lower PHQ-9 score was the unique predictor of the PICCOLO-Teaching score (22% of variability; p < 0.03), and younger age of child was the unique predictor of the PICCOLO-Responsiveness score (18% of variability; p < 0.01). The findings of the present study showed that maternal depressive symptoms and age of children were consistent predictors of maternal interactive behavior. Through an understanding of characteristics that can potentially interfere or favor mother-child interaction, it is expected to contribute to the planning of preventive interventions for strengthening parenting, encouraging positive interactions between mothers and children, and protecting early childhood development.

Authors

• Claudia Maria Gaspardo, University of Sao Paulo
  Presenting Author

• Fernanda Leite Ongilio
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elisa Rachel Pisani Altafim, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rebeca Cristina de OLIVEIRA, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
  Non-Presenting Author

• Maria Beatriz Martins Linhares, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
  Non-Presenting Author