Maternal Depression Among Low Income African American and Latina Mothers and Developmental Outcomes of Their Young Children

Depression data using the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression (CESD) scale were collected during home visits with 208 Latina mothers and 170 African American mothers as part of a longitudinal study of developmental outcomes in their 2½ year old children. Average family income-to-needs ratio was 75% of the federal poverty level. Latina mothers were predominantly foreign-born (78%), Spanish-speaking (80%), and Mexican-origin (96%). The majority (86%) of Latina mothers were married compared to only 29% of African American mothers in the sample. Approximately 9% of the African American mothers and 12% of the Latina mothers reported depressive symptoms at or above the CESD cutoff of 16. At Time 1 (child age 2½ years), mother-child data were collected by coding video recordings of structured interaction tasks, and child outcome measures included assessment of child behavior problems and self regulation skills. Depressive symptoms appeared to be more strongly related to deficits in the quality of mother-child interaction in Latina mothers, with depressed Latina mothers displaying lower sensitivity and cognitive stimulation, and higher negative regard than non-depressed Latina mothers. Children of Latina mothers with depressive symptoms displayed significantly higher child behavior problems at age 2½. Time 2 home visits (child age 3½ years) were completed in December 2011, and preliminary analyses indicate that children of depressed mothers displayed deficits in socioemotional competence regardless of ethnicity. We will explore how pathways between maternal depression and child competence are moderated by ethnicity.