The depressed woman as a mother

Abstract

Maternal role performance was examined in a group of acutely depressed women and compared with matched normal controls. The depressed women were significantly more impaired mothers. Their impairments with the children included diminished emotional involvement, impaired communication, disaffection, increased hostility and resentment. These disturbances were examined clinically within the context of the family life cycle from post partum to the “empty nest”. The specific problems between mother and children were found to vary with the stages of the life cycle. Depressed mothers of infants were helpless in caring for the children, over concerned or directly hostile, laying the ground work for future problems with the child. Mothers of school age children were irritable, uninvolved and intolerant of the children's noise and activity. Most school age children, however, did not develop overt psychological symptoms. The most severe problems occurred with the adolescents who reacted to the mothers hostility and withdrawal with serious deviant behavior. While conflict existed between the depressed mothers and the children leaving home, most children were able to make the physical break from home. These findings are discussed in light of scattered reports about the effect of maternal depression on children. Early and intensive treatment of the depressed mother can facilitate major preventive work for the entire family.