Does Maternal Mental Health and Maternal Stress Affect Preschoolers' Behavioral Symptoms?

• Main Authors: María Pía Santelices (Author), Matías Irarrázaval (Author), Pamela Jervis (Author), Cristian Brotfeld (Author), Carla Cisterna (Author), Ana María Gallardo (Author)
• Format: Bog
• Udgivet: MDPI AG, 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Fag: article
• Online adgang: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/children8090816; 2227-9067
• Keywords: maternal depression; parental stress; behavioral problems; Pediatrics; RJ1-570
• Source: Children, Vol 8, Iss 9, p 816 (2021)

(1) Background: Maternal stress and depression are considered risk factors in children's socioemotional development, also showing high prevalence worldwide. (2) Method: Participants correspond to a longitudinal sample of 6335 mother/child pairs (18-72 months), who were surveyed in 2010 and then in 2012. The hypothesis was tested with SEM analysis, setting the child's internalized/externalized problems as dependent variable, maternal depression as independent variable, and stress as a partial mediator. (3) Results: Both depression during pregnancy and recent depression has not only a direct effect on the internalizing and externalizing symptomatology of the child, but also an indirect effect through parental stress. Significant direct and indirect relationships were found. (4) Conclusions: Maternal depression and the presence of parental stress can influence children's behavioral problems, both internalizing and externalizing.