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Pathways from maternal depressive symptoms to children's academic performance in adolescence: A 13-year prospective-longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT: The pathways through which exposure to maternal depressive symptoms in early childhood are linked to academic performance during adolescence are poorly understood. This study tested pathways from maternal depressive symptoms (age 2-5) to adolescent academic performance (age 15) through cumulative parenting risk (age 7) and subsequent child functioning (age 10), using multi-informant data from a prospective longitudinal community study spanning 13 years (N = 389, 47% male, 68% White). Structural equation models testing indirect effects revealed small associations between maternal depressive symptoms and increased cumulative parenting risk and poorer child functioning, and, via these pathways, with poorer academic performance. Thus, childhood exposure to maternal depressive symptoms may be associated with pathways of risk that could limit children's educational opportunities.

SUBMITTER: Bechtiger L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8930421 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Pathways from maternal depressive symptoms to children's academic performance in adolescence: A 13-year prospective-longitudinal study.

Bechtiger Laura L Steinhoff Annekatrin A Dollar Jessica M JM Halliday Simone E SE Keane Susan P SP Calkins Susan D SD Shanahan Lilly L

Child development 20211022 2

The pathways through which exposure to maternal depressive symptoms in early childhood are linked to academic performance during adolescence are poorly understood. This study tested pathways from maternal depressive symptoms (age 2-5) to adolescent academic performance (age 15) through cumulative parenting risk (age 7) and subsequent child functioning (age 10), using multi-informant data from a prospective longitudinal community study spanning 13 years (N = 389, 47% male, 68% White). Structural ...[more]

PMID: 34676894

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Project description:BackgroundMaternal postpartum depression is an important risk factor for internalizing and externalizing problems in children. The role of concurrent paternal depression remains unclear, especially by socioeconomic status. This study examined independent and interactive associations of postpartum maternal and paternal depression with children's internalizing/externalizing symptoms throughout childhood and adolescence (ages 3.5-17 years).MethodsWe used data from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, a representative birth cohort (1997-1998) in Canada. Data included self-reported maternal and paternal depressive symptoms at 5 months' postpartum using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children were reported by parents, teachers and children/adolescents using the Social Behaviour Questionnaire (ages 3.5-13 years) and the Mental Health and Social Inadaptation Assessment for Adolescents (ages 15-17 years). We used three-level mixed effects modelling to test associations after adjusting for confounding factors.ResultsWith 168 single-parent families excluded, our sample consisted of 1,700 families with useable data. Of these, 275 (16.2%) families reported maternal depression (clinically elevated symptoms), 135 (7.9%) paternal depression and 39 (2.3%) both. In families with high socioeconomic status, maternal depression was associated with greater child internalizing (β = .34; p < .001) and externalizing symptoms (β = .22; p = .002), regardless of the presence/absence of paternal depression. In families with low socioeconomic status, associations with symptoms were stronger with concurrent paternal depression (internalizing, β = .84, p < .001; externalizing, β = .71, p = .003) than without (internalizing, β = .30, p < .001; externalizing, β = .24, p = .002).ConclusionsMaternal depression increases the risk for children's internalizing/externalizing problems in all socioeconomic contexts. In families with low socioeconomic status, risks were exacerbated by concurrent paternal depression. Postpartum depression, especially in low socioeconomic environments, should be a primary focus to optimize mental health across generations.

Dataset Information

Pathways from maternal depressive symptoms to children's academic performance in adolescence: A 13-year prospective-longitudinal study.

Publications

Pathways from maternal depressive symptoms to children's academic performance in adolescence: A 13-year prospective-longitudinal study.

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