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Cited by 319Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumInfant Development and Preterm CareChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Maternal Depressive Symptoms at 2 to 4 Months Post Partum and Early Parenting Practices

McLearn, Kathryn Taaffe, Minkovitz, Cynthia S., Strobino, Donna M., Marks, Elisabeth, Hou, William·2006·Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
DOI 10.1001/archpedi.160.3.279
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether maternal depressive symptoms, reported when infants are 2 to 4 months old, are associated with mothers' early parenting practices. DESIGN: Secondary data analyses collected from the National Evaluation of Healthy Steps for Young Children. Data sources included newborn enrollment questionnaires and parent interviews when infants were 2 to 4 months old. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. SETTING: Twenty-four pediatric practices across the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5565 families enrolled in Healthy Steps; 4874 mothers (88%) completed 2- to 4-month interviews and provided Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale data; 17.8% of mothers reported having depressive symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ten parenting practices assessed in 3 domains: safety (sleep position and lowering water temperature), feeding (cereal, water, or juice; continuing breastfeeding), and practices to promote child development (showing books, playing with infant, talking to infant, and following 2 or more routines). RESULTS: Mothers with and without depressive symptoms reported similar uses of safety and feeding practices. Mothers with depressive symptoms had reduced odds of continuing breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.88), showing books (AOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.97), playing with the infant (AOR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54-0.90), talking to the infant (AOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.86), and following routines (AOR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.52-0.72). CONCLUSION: Maternal depressive symptoms are common in early infancy and contribute to unfavorable parenting practices.

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  • Difficulties in mother-to-infant bonding could reduce the quality of parenting practices and could affect the rates of abusive behavior.

    “In addition, difficulties in mother-to-infant bonding could reduce the quality of parenting practices37,53,130,137,145,146 and could affect the rates of abusive behavior.144”

    From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [137]

  • Many studies show that the infant also suffers when the mother is affected by postpartum depression, even when the mother's symptoms do not reach symptomatic severity of a major depressive disorder.

    “Many studies show that the infant also suffers when the mother is affected by PPD, even when the mother’s symptoms do not reach symptomatic severity of a major depressive disorder (McLearn et al., 2006; Murray and Cooper, 1997b; Righetti-Veltema et al., 2003).”

    From The maternal brain and its plasticity in humans (2016) · cites this paper as McLearn et al., 2006

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Authors
McLearn, K. T., Minkovitz, C. S., Strobino, D. M., Marks, E., & Hou, W.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Université de Montréal (CA)
ORCID
Minkovitz, Cynthia S.
Venue
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2006-03-01
Volume
160
Issue
3
Pages
279
ISSN
1072-4710 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.160.3.279
OpenAlex
W2137918531
Cited by
319
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 26
FWCI
19.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Commonwealth Fund
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
maternal depressive symptoms, postpartum depression, infant sleep safety, infant feeding practices, breastfeeding, infant stimulation
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors, Parenting, Depression, Postpartum

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