Parental stress is a contributing factor linking maternal depression to
child anxiety and depressive symptoms

Date:
December 1, 2021
Source:
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Summary:
A secondary analysis of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing
Study (Fragile Families) found a bi-directional relationship where a
mother's mental health symptoms impacted the child's mental health
symptoms and vice versa, according to researchers.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A secondary analysis of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study
(Fragile Families) found a bi-directional relationship where a mother's
mental health symptoms impacted the child's mental health symptoms and
vice versa, according to researchers with Cizik School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston).


==========================================================================
The analysis, published Dec. 1 in the print edition of the Journal of
Affective Disorders, investigated mother and child mental health symptoms
over a 10-year period to provide new insights into the development of depression and anxiety among families. The research points to parental
stress, or the processes and subsequent reactions that result from
attempting to manage the challenges and burdens of parenthood, as the
factor that partially links maternal depression and child anxiety and depressive symptoms.

"By focusing on mother-child duos, we identified that maternal depression
at an earlier time point predicted child anxiety and depressive symptoms
at a later time point. Further, children who experienced anxiety
and depressive symptoms at an earlier time point were more likely to
have mothers who experienced depression at later time points," said
Daphne Hernandez, PhD, associate professor and Lee and Joseph Jamail Distinguished Professor in the School of Nursing and senior author on
the study.

Experiences with maternal depression increase feelings of being
overwhelmed with the parenting role, contributing to hostility and lack
of warmth in the family environment, according to the researchers. The
lack of warmth could affect a child's mental health negatively.

The Fragile Families study began at Princeton University and Columbia University between 1998 and 2000 to study the outcomes of familial relationships of unmarried parents on their offspring. The large
population- based sample has allowed researchers across the U.S. to
provide insights into various family and relationship dynamics.

The researchers' findings have the opportunity to guide suggestions for
mental health treatments for families where both mothers and children
are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

"A dual intervention, where both mother and child are receiving
treatment together, in addition to their separate treatment plans,
may be a successful approach for families where mothers and children
exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression," Hernandez said. "Most
importantly, implementing strategies to lower parental stress is vital." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Texas_Health_Science_Center_at_Houston.

Original written by Jaelyn Lyles. Note: Content may be edited for style
and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sajeevika S. Daundasekara, Jennifer E.S. Beauchamp, Daphne
C. Hernandez.

Parenting stress mediates the longitudinal effect of maternal
depression on child anxiety/depressive symptoms. Journal of
Affective Disorders, 2021; 295: 33 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.002 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211201111944.htm

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