The relations among maternal depressive disorder, maternal expressed emotion, and toddler behavior problems and attachment

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2012 Jul;40(5):803-13. doi: 10.1007/s10802-011-9598-z.

Abstract

Direct and indirect relations among maternal depression, maternal Expressed Emotion (EE: Self- and Child-Criticism), child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and child attachment were examined. Participants were mothers with depression (n = 130) and comparison mothers (n = 68) and their toddlers (M age = 20 mo.; 53% male). Assessments included the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (maternal depression); the Five Minute Speech Sample (EE); the Child Behavior Checklist (toddler behavior problems); the Strange Situation (child attachment). Direct relations were significant linking: 1) maternal depression with both EE and child functioning; 2) Child-Criticism with child internalizing and externalizing symptoms; 3) Self-Criticism with child attachment. Significant indirect relations were found linking maternal depression with: 1) child externalizing behaviors via Child-Criticism; 2) child internalizing behaviors via Self- and Child-Criticism; and 3) child attachment via Self-Criticism. Findings are consistent with a conceptual model in which maternal EE mediates relations between maternal depression and toddler socio-emotional functioning.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
  • Expressed Emotion*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marital Status
  • Mother-Child Relations*
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Object Attachment*
  • Young Adult