Maternal Sensitivity and Communication Styles

Abstract

Women living in poverty are at increased risk for depression, especially during their childbearing years. Whereas poverty has known adverse effects on children's cognitive, social, and communication development, maternal depression may place these children at additional risk of developmental delays. The maternal sensitivity of mothers with and without depression and its relationship to maternal–child communicative patterns was investigated. We analyzed cross-sectional data on a sample of 23 African American and Caucasian mother–child dyads (13 with and 10 without depression) living in poverty, drawn from a prospective cohort study. Maternal depression was identified using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule–IV based on diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.). Language samples of maternal–child interaction were analyzed using measures of maternal sensitivity, speech acts, and mother–child interchanges. Significant differences in maternal sensitivity, as well as different patterns of relationships between sensitive and communicative behaviors, were found between the groups. Early childhood professionals need to be aware of the effects maternal depression has on communicative interactions and children's development.

Low-Level Symptoms of Depression in Mothers of Young Children are Associated with Behavior Problems in Middle Childhood

“…Mothers with depression have poorer quality interactions with children, provide fewer comforting interchanges, provide less communicative responses to children, and show less positive affect and tone of voice [11,12]. A number of studies demonstrate that mothers with mental illness are less emotionally available, less reciprocal, less involved, less positive and more likely to use denial as a discipline strategy [13].…”

The Impact of Maternal Depression on the Child and How to Prevent and Heal

“…Among young children, maternal depression leads to both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems [14], fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or losing interest in daily activities-may influence a mother's ability to make and keep doctor's appointments for her children, notice health problems in children, and adhere to treatment regimes for sick children [14], Research on nonLatino populations has consistently shown that children of depressed mothers manifest elevated rates of depressive symptomatology and are at increased risk for externalizing and internalizing problems as well as attentional deficits and school performance problems [15], disrupts the architecture of the developing brain [16], outcomes in infancy, such as language and cognitive problems [17], poor cognition, social interaction and physical development and disruptive behaviour in the first year of life [18], child development, namely, the adequacy of maternal-child interactions in meeting the communication needs of children in their formative years [19], increased risk for emotional and behavioral disturbances [20], health [21] …”

“…Moreover, there is strong evidence that in addition to benefiting mothers' wellbeing, these reforms would bolster children's emotional and social development and learninghelping families across the country rise out of poverty [13], parenting [26], appropriate counseling session and psychotherapy is crucial to increase their mental well-being [27], Awareness of any potential differences may help early childhood professionals who work with mothers with depression [19] Healing programs: the first thing to do is getting know the sign of maternal depression and how to deal with, Cognitive therapy, spiritual belief, associating their mind to the wellness, remembering the calm and confidence associated with health and happiness, contemplation, simple attitude of prayerfulness and a feeling of empathy, caring, and compassion for the entity in need, seemed to set the stage for healing [28] sharing [24], Treating maternal depression is crucial to improving parenting and getting children's development back on track for school and adult success, including escaping poverty. There is strong evidence that a variety of safe and effective tools exist for treating adults with depression, including pharmacotherapies, psychotherapies, behavioral therapies, and alternative medicines.…”

“…Both medication and cognitive behavioral therapies, with modifications such as support for child care, have proven particularly effective for poor, minority women. Orienting the treatment to help mothers and fathers be effective parents is essential [13], Awareness of any potential differences may help early childhood professionals who work with mothers with depression [19] III. CONCLUSION Emphasizing this maternal depression issue could raise the caution of the caregiver who is capable of being the social support for the mother and the child who are in this depressed situation.…”

Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Child Social Preference During the Early School Years: Mediation by Maternal Warmth and Child Emotion Regulation

“…Specifically, mothers with high rates of depressive symptoms are characterized by low sociability and responsiveness, and difficulty initiating and sustaining social interaction (Field et al 1990; Hwa-Froelich et al 2008; Lovejoy et al 2000). Depressed mothers are also more hostile, intrusive, harsh and critical than nondepressed mothers in their interactions with their young children (Caughy et al 2009; Huang et al 2007; Webster-Stratton and Hammond 1988).…”