Public health implications of maternal depression and family and child functioning: Cross-study findings

Maternal depression is high in the general population, but even higher among women in multi-risk ecologies, particularly demarcated by poverty and minority status. This presentation analyzes data from 4 longitudinal studies focused on 2 major transition periods: preparing for and 3 years after a child's birth and the transition-to-school, from pre-K -3rd grade. Each study includes repeated measures of maternal depression, family functioning, and child outcomes (Table 1). Across all studies, maternal depression rates ranged from 40-50%. Approximately 40% experienced no/minimal, 30% mild, 20% moderate, and 10% severe depression. Both severity and chronicity of depression contributed to associations detected with child/family functioning. In PFFT, highest prevalence rates of moderate-severe depression occurred during pregnancy, with high-education adult mothers having lower rates than either teen mothers or low-education adult mothers. Group differences continued over 3 years. Mothers' depression severity predicted multiple differences related to observed mother-infant interactional patterns, including 18-month parenting (Landry Naturalistic Observation, HOME) and child outcomes at 24 months (Bayley II – Mental, PLS4, and ITSEA). Never-depressed mothers were older F(2,415)=6.79,p=.001, lower prenatal ERISK scores F(2,415)=10.96,p<.001 and higher prenatal support from their mothers F(2,415)=7.39,p=.001 and their babies' fathers F(2,415)=6.52,p=.002. Adolescent mothers with suicidal thoughts were significantly more likely to become pregnant again within 2 years (Z=2.17,p<.05) and 3 times more likely to report being physically abused than mothers who spaced their pregnancies further apart (Z=2.01,p<.05). Findings support policies to improve universal screening for maternal depression at multiple stages in a family's evolution. Additional public health implications will be delineated.