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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Emily Feinberg, ScD, CPNP¹, Megan Smith, MPH, DrPH(c)¹, and Robin Young, BA². (1) Department of Maternal and Child Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T5W, Boston, MA 02118, (2) Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118, 617 414-1425, ryoung@bu.edu

No nationally representative data have examined how maternal depression affects a child's understanding of the larger social environment. We examined maternal depression's effects on a child's general knowledge at entry into kindergarten and protective factors that may buffer a child's exposure to maternal depression. We analyzed data from 15,294 participants in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten (ECLS-K) entering kindergarten in fall 1998. The ECLS-K used a modified Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) to measure maternal depression. We used the study's assessment of science and social studies to measure a child's general knowledge. Three factors (SES, presence of a mother's partner, and attendance at center-based childcare) were identified as potential confounders and mediators of the effect of maternal depression. We conducted weighted multivariate regression with the general knowledge score as the dependent variable and maternal depression as the independent variable. 19.1% (n=2,923) of mothers met CES-D criteria for moderate/severe depression. Maternal depression was associated with a 3 point decrement in a child's general knowledge score (p <0.0001). Higher SES, presence of a mother s partner, and attendance at center-based childcare were associated with increases in general knowledge scores (p<0.001 for all). In multivariate analysis, moderate/severe depression continued to have a significant but reduced effect on a child s general knowledge score even after controlling for factors that may buffer the impact of maternal depression. These findings suggest that the effect of maternal depression on a child's general knowledge is buffered but not mitigated by protective factors.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify a major data source to investigate the impact of maternal mental health on child health and development
• Describe the impact of maternal depression on a child's general knowledge
• Identify factors that may buffer the negative effects of maternal depression on child outcomes

Keywords: Child Health, Depression

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation