Poster #16 - Support for the Maternal-Child Dyad: Association of Children's Externalizing Behavior Disorder and Maternal Mental Health

• In Event: 2-001 - Poster Session 1 during Breakfast

Abstract

Background: Children with a parent who suffers from mental illness are at risk for disruptions in development (Propper, Rigg, & Burgess, 2007). Maternal depression is a public health concern because it is prevalent among women of childbearing age, with higher rates noted among low-income women (Hall, Williams, & Greenberg, 1985; Kessler et al., 1994). Depression compromises maternal-child interaction, which is critical to development (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000). Externalizing behavior disorders are a public health concern because the onset of symptoms occur early in life and they can lead to poor outcomes such as low educational attainment, increased injuries, delinquency, violence, criminality, and substance use disorders (Erskine et al., 2016; Kessler & Wang, 2008; Rowe, Maughan, & Goodman, 2004). Using nationally representative data, this study examines associations of children (0–12 years) diagnosed with an externalizing behavior disorder and their mothers’ self-reported mental health status.
Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data from the National Survey of Child Health 2011/12. Families with children < 12 years of age (n=66,870) were included in the sample. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association of mother’s self-reported mental health on the outcome of the child diagnosed with an externalizing behavior disorder, while controlling for age, race, sex, poverty status, and family structure.
Results: Mothers with poor mental and emotional health were 5.37 times more likely to have a child diagnosed with an externalizing behavior disorder, after controlling for covariates (95% CI: 5.32-5.41). Results are found in Table 1. A significant graded relationship is noted with increasing odds of a child being diagnosed with an externalizing disorder as the mother’s mental health status decreases.
Conclusion: The significant decline in maternal mental health status as related to the child diagnosis of externalizing behavior disorder is concerning. Often healthcare providers view the child as their patient and do not assess the health of the parent. While this study is limited in understanding the direction of associations, the effects of maternal mental health on child health and conversely, child’s behavioral health on maternal mental health should be considered during the pediatric assessment. It is critical to intervene early to support the mother and child for the preservation of maternal mental health and the prevention and early intervention of behavior disorders.

Authors

• Cary Cain, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
  Presenting Author

• Dorothy Mandell, University of Texas System & University of Texas Health Science Center Tyler