Abstract
BackgroundThe literature has few studies on the quality of the mother-child interaction when mothers suffer from chronic anxiety and depression. This study aimed to compare characteristics of the interaction between 14-month-old children and their mothers who presented symptoms of chronic anxiety or depression with those of 14-month-old children and their mothers who did not present mental problems.MethodThe sample consisted of 40 mother-infant dyads selected from a prospective cohort study. They were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, at three time points: during pregnancy and at 6 months and 14 months of the infant’s life. Three groups were formed: 10 mothers with symptoms of chronic anxiety, 8 mothers with symptoms of chronic depression, and a control group of 22 mothers without mental health problems. The mothers responded to a socioeconomic questionnaire, and then a 7-min episode of the dyad interaction was recorded and assessed using categories indicated in a dyadic interaction assessment protocol. This consisted of six categories that evaluate the behavior of the caregiver and four categories that evaluate the child’s behavior.ResultsA significantly higher percentage of mothers with chronic depressive symptoms had not completed high school and did not live with a partner. When comparing the interaction behaviors of the three groups, mothers with symptoms of chronic depression were significantly less sensitive, were more disengaged, and showed less positive affect than those in the control group. They also engaged in significantly fewer stimulations and displayed more negative affect compared with both the control group and mothers with chronic anxiety symptoms. Anxious mothers presented greater intrusiveness compared with mothers in the control group. Regarding the children, those with mothers showing symptoms of chronic depression interacted significantly less than those with mothers showing symptoms of chronic anxiety and the control group.ConclusionsThe results indicate that mother-infant interaction is most severely compromised among mother-infant dyads comprised of mothers with chronic depressive symptoms, compared with dyads of mothers with chronic anxiety symptoms and dyads of control group mothers without mental health problems.
Highlights
The literature has few studies on the quality of the mother-child interaction when mothers suffer from chronic anxiety and depression
When comparing the interaction behaviors of the three groups, mothers with symptoms of chronic depression were significantly less sensitive, were more disengaged, and showed less positive affect than those in the control group. They engaged in significantly fewer stimulations and displayed more negative affect compared with both the control group and mothers with chronic anxiety symptoms
The results indicate that mother-infant interaction is most severely compromised among mother-infant dyads comprised of mothers with chronic depressive symptoms, compared with dyads of mothers with chronic anxiety symptoms and dyads of control group mothers without mental health problems
Summary
The literature has few studies on the quality of the mother-child interaction when mothers suffer from chronic anxiety and depression. Favorable family context provides an important setting for the infant’s social–emotional development and well-being This can alleviate the impact of adverse factors during periods of greater vulnerability for the child (Parfitt, Pike, & Ayers, 2014). Maternal mental health problems, such as chronic depression and anxiety, have been considered to be risk factors that can affect the initial relationship of the dyad and the child’s development, even when the maternal pathology is in remission (Chemello, Levandowisk, & Donelli, 2017; Goodman et al, 2011; Kaitz, Maytal, Devor, Bergman, & Mankuta, 2010). Studies of mother-infant interaction at 6 months and at the end of the first year of life have confirmed that mothers with high levels of anxiety present hyperarousal (Kaitz et al, 2010) and attachment impairment, together with less affection, less emotional warmth, and fewer positive feelings (Tietz, Zietlow, & Reck, 2014). Clavarino et al (2010) observed that the mother’s anxiety had a close relationship with lower maternal sensitivity to the suffering of the child
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