Longitudinal Dyadic Interdependence in Depression Symptoms of Caregivers Living with HIV in Uganda and Their Dependent Children’s Neurodevelopment and Executive Behavior Outcomes

Abstract

We tested a model of dyadic interdependence in depression symptoms experienced by female caregivers living with HIV in Uganda (n = 288) and behavioral problems of their HIV-infected (n = 92) and perinatally HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children (n = 196). Three repeated measures of caregiver depression symptoms and child neurodevelopment and behavioral outcomes were related to their own outcomes at a previous time point (actoreffects), and the outcomes of the other member of the dyad (partner effects). Caregiver depression and child behavioral problem were interdependent over the 24months of observation. Caregiver depression at Tn predicted child's behavioral problems at Tn+1 (coefficient = 0.1220, SE = 0.0313, p < 0.01); child behavioral problems at Tn predicted maternal depression at Tn+1 (coefficient = 0.0984, SE = 0.0253, p < 0.01). Results suggest the importance of services addressing behavioral needs of affected children and mental health of their mothers.