Role limitations in mothers living with depression: Links with children's academic achievement

Abstract

Maternal depression can limit the quality of parenting behaviors that foster child academic achievement. This effect may be explained by functional difficulties, also known as role limitations, that result from experiencing physical health issues (i.e., physical role limitations) and emotional health issues (i.e., emotional role limitations). Physical and emotional role limitations might be especially salient in low-income, urban mother-child dyads because of elevated levels of environmental stressors. We conducted mediation models with a sample of 133 low-income, urban, predominantly African American and Latino families. Our analyses indicated direct links between maternal depression and emotional and physical role limitations, as well as a direct link between maternal depression and child reading (but not math) abilities. Analyses suggested that maternal depression was indirectly linked with child reading abilities through emotional role limitations. This study can inform programs that nurture development in urban, minoritized children in the context of poverty and maternal depression.