Pathways from maternal depressive symptoms to children's academic performance in adolescence: A 13‐year prospective‐longitudinal study. Issue 2 (22nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bechtiger, Laura; Steinhoff, Annekatrin; Dollar, Jessica M.; Halliday, Simone E.; Keane, Susan P.; Calkins, Susan D.; Shanahan, Lilly
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 93:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 388
• Page End: 404
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13685
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract: The pathways through which exposure to maternal depressive symptoms in early childhood are linked to academic performance during adolescence are poorly understood. This study tested pathways from maternal depressive symptoms (age 2–5) to adolescent academic performance (age 15) through cumulative parenting risk (age 7) and subsequent child functioning (age 10), using multi‐informant data from a prospective longitudinal community study spanning 13 years ( N = 389, 47% male, 68% White). Structural equation models testing indirect effects revealed small associations between maternal depressive symptoms and increased cumulative parenting risk and poorer child functioning, and, via these pathways, with poorer academic performance. Thus, childhood exposure to maternal depressive symptoms may be associated with pathways of risk that could limit children's educational opportunities.