Abstract
Abstract The aim of this study was to verify possible associations between maternal depressive symptoms, children’s behavioral problems and perceptions regarding the family interactions, considering the reports of mothers and children. A total of 60 mothers and their school-age children were divided into two equal groups, according to the presence or absence of maternal depression indicators, and evaluated using the following instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and scales of family interaction (Escalas de Qualidade nas Interações Familiares). The results indicate that maternal depressive symptoms were associated with children’s behavioral problems and with family interactions reported by mothers and children. Maternal depression and positive family interactions reported by the mothers predicted behavioral problems in children. Positive family interactions reported by the mothers also mediated the association between maternal depression and children’s behavioral problems, highlighting the relevance of interventions with mothers with depression indicators that have school-age children.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to verify possible associations between maternal depressive symptoms, children’s behavioral problems and perceptions regarding the family interactions, considering the reports of mothers and children
Children of Group 1 (G1) presented higher percentages of classifications related to the presence of problems, when compared to those of Group 2 (G2) (G1 = 18.27, G2 = 11.20, p = 0.013; Cohen’s d = 1.03), indicating that mothers with depressive symptoms reported more behavioral problems of their children, when compared to mothers without these indicators
One of the hypotheses adopted by this study was that, in the condition of living with maternal depressive symptoms, family interactions would be perceived as more negative and less positive by mothers and children, and that these children would present more behavioral problems
Summary
The aim of this study was to verify possible associations between maternal depressive symptoms, children’s behavioral problems and perceptions regarding the family interactions, considering the reports of mothers and children. The results indicate that maternal depressive symptoms were associated with children’s behavioral problems and with family interactions reported by mothers and children. Positive family interactions reported by the mothers mediated the association between maternal depression and children’s behavioral problems, highlighting the relevance of interventions with mothers with depression indicators that have school-age children. Studies have identified the negative impact of maternal depressive symptoms on different childhood outcomes, including internalizing and externalizing behavior problems (Ahun et al, 2018; Van Doorn et al, 2016) This association will be highlighted below, with empirical studies and scientific literature reviews, with emphasis on the influence of family interactions on the behavioral outcomes of school-age children, the focus of the present study
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