The influence of maternal depression, caregiving, and socioeconomic status in the post‐natal year on children's language development
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-natal depression is common and has been associated with adverse effects on children's later emotional and behavioural development. The evidence for effects on children's cognitive development is unclear but this could potentially be a major public health issue. The aim was to examine whether maternal depression and maternal caregiving during the first year of life are associated with children's subsequent language development. METHODS: One thousand two hundred and one women were recruited from antenatal and post-natal baby clinics in two areas in England, and followed up until their babies were 3 years. Mothers and children were assessed by questionnaire, interview and home observation; 999 children's language was assessed at 36 months, although 55 were excluded principally because they had been exposed to insufficient English. RESULTS: In bivariate analyses maternal depressive symptomatology in the post-natal year but not at 36 months was associated with poorer child language at 36 months; maternal caregiving, was positively associated with language. Structural Equation Modelling revealed that depression was associated with poorer caregiving but was not independently associated with language. Higher quality caregiving at 10 months was associated with better language. When the sample was split by socioeconomic factors the effects of depression on caregiving were stronger in the less advantaged group. In both groups poorer quality early caregiving predicted lower language outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Post-natal depression had a negative effect on caregiving, which in turn affected language; post-natal depression did not have an additional direct effect on language. Socioeconomic factors moderated the effects of depression on caregiving. When targeting interventions at mothers with post-natal depression, it may be strategic to focus on lower socioeconomic groups at higher risk.
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Maternal depressive symptomatology in the postnatal year is indirectly associated with worse child language skills at 36 months.
“Four studies demonstrated an indirect effect on language development; in particular, one study117 showed that maternal depressive symptomatology in the postnatal year was indirectly associated with worse child language skills at 36 months.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
The effects of depression on caregiving are stronger in less-advantaged socioeconomic groups.
“In addition, the effects of depression on caregiving were stronger in less-advantaged socioeconomic groups.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
Depression is associated with worse caregiving.
“Moreover, depression was associated with worse caregiving, and maternal caregiving was positively associated with language.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
Maternal caregiving is positively associated with language.
“Moreover, depression was associated with worse caregiving, and maternal caregiving was positively associated with language.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
When the sample was split by socioeconomic factors, the effects of depression on caregiving were stronger in the less-advantaged group.
“When the sample was split by socioeconomic factors, the effects of depression on caregiving were stronger in the less-advantaged group.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
Maternal depressive symptomatology in the first postnatal year (but not at 36 months) was associated with worse child language skills at 36 months.
“Maternal depressive symptomatology in the first postnatal year (but not at 36 months) was associated with worse child language skills at 36 months;”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
Maternal caregiving was positively associated with language.
“maternal caregiving was positively associated with language.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
Depression was associated with worse caregiving but was not independently associated with language.
“Depression was associated with worse caregiving but was not independently associated with language.”
From Consequences of maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes (2019) · cites this paper as [117]
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- Authors
- Stein, A., Malmberg, L. ‐., Sylva, K., Barnes, J., Leach, P., & the FCCC team
- Affiliations
- The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Birkbeck, University of London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Stein, A.
- Venue
- Child: Care, Health and Development
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-08-21
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 603-612
- ISSN
- 0305-1862 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2214
- OpenAlex
- W2105027765
- Cited by
- 195
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 8.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Child Care Health and Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BIROn (Birkbeck, University of London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- postpartum depression, maternal depression, maternal care, child language acquisition, socioeconomic status, early childhood, caregiving quality, mediation, moderated effects, maternal mental health
- MeSH terms
- Child Development, England, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Language Development, Male, Maternal Behavior, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Class, Child of Impaired Parents, Depression, Postpartum
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