Biological Sensitivity to the Effects of Maternal Postpartum Depressive Symptoms on Children's Behavior Problems. Issue 6 (10th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Somers, Jennifer A.; Luecken, Linda J.; Spinrad, Tracy L.; Crnic, Keith A.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 90:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: e888
• Page End: e900
• Publication Date: 2018-07-10
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : Resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) may confer infant susceptibility to the postpartum environment. Among infants with higher RSA, there may be a positive relation between depressive symptoms across the first 6 months postpartum (PPD) and later behavior problems, and toddlers' dysregulation during mother–child interactions may partially explain the effects. Among a sample of low‐income Mexican‐American families, infant RSA ( N = 322; 46% male) was assessed at 6 weeks of age; mothers ( M age = 27.8, SD = 6.5) reported PPD symptoms every 3 weeks from 6 to 24 weeks and infant behavior problems at 36 months. Dysregulation was observed at 24 months. PPD was positively associated with behavior problems only among infants with lower RSA; however, this relation was not mediated by dysregulation.