Latent Growth Model of Maternal Depressive Symptoms: Predictors and Effects on Infant's Developmental Outcomes

Abstract

The present study investigated the developmental pattern of Korean mothers' depressive symptoms from a week prior to birth through four months postpartum in a nationally represented survey sample in Korea, using a Latent Growth Curve model. Mother-reported four factors-maternal self-efficacy in parenting, father's participation in childcare, a number of hours mothers worked per week, child's emotional temperament-were examined as the predictors of depressive symptoms over time in the context of Korean culture. Effects of maternal depressive trajectories on their infants' developmental outcomes at the first year were also examined. Findings were as follows: First, mothers' reports of depressive symptoms decreased at the first month after birth and then increased again during the first 4 months postpartum. Second, mothers' perceived low spousal involvement in childcare, low parental self-efficacy, and their infants' difficult temperament at four-month old had significantly positive relations to the initial level of maternal depressive symptoms whereas the low spousal involvement in childcare and low maternal self-efficacy factors significantly predicted the changes of trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms. Third, the trajectories, in turn, predicted warm and responsive maternal parenting style at the fourth month. Subsequently, the parenting style had a significant longitudinal impact on the development of children's communication, problem-solving, and personal-social abilities. Based on these findings, awareness, preventive and interventional programs might be built to facilitate Korean mothers suffering severe postpartum depressive symptoms and further promote optimal early development of Korean children.