Summary
The purpose of this study was to examine whether maternal mental distress affects parenting practices related to monitoring activities (i.e. daily routines, enrichment activities). The nationally representative sample consisted of 1638 mothers. Maternal mental distress was assessed by the 5-item Mental Health Index (MHI). Logistic regression models were conducted, controlling for covariates (e.g. marital status, education level, etc.). Approximately 14% of the women reported high levels of mental distress and 25% of the women failed to engage in enrichment activities or consistent daily routines with their children. There was a significant adverse relationship between mental distress and routines, with women who were mentally distressed being more likely to not engage in daily routines. There was no significant relationship between mental distress and enrichment activities. Race differentials were evident among these relationships. These findings highlight the prevalence of maternal mental distress and its deleterious effects on select parenting behaviors.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agresti A (1996) An introduction to categorical data analyses. John Wiley, New York.
C Arroyo FB Hu LM Ryan I Kawachi GA Colditz FE Speizer J Manson (2004) ArticleTitleDepressive symptoms and risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Diabetes Care 27 129–133 Occurrence Handle14693978
AB Berenson CR Breitkopf ZH Wu (2003) ArticleTitleReproductive correlates of depressive symptoms among low-income minority women. Obstet Gynecol 102 1310–1317 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.obstetgynecol.2003.08.012 Occurrence Handle14662220
DM Berwick JM Murphy PA Goldman JE Ware AJ Barsky MC Weinstein (1991) ArticleTitlePerformance of a five-item mental health screening test. Medical Care 29 IssueID2 169–176 Occurrence Handle1994148
Blumberg SJ, Olson L, Osborn L (2000) Design and operation of the National Survey of Early Childhood Health. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat.
AS Carter FE Garrity-Rokous R Chazen-Cohen C Little MJ Briggs-Gowan (2001) ArticleTitleMaternal depression and comorbidity: predicting early parenting, attachment security, and toddler social-emotional problems and competencies. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 40 18–26 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004583-200101000-00012 Occurrence Handle11195555
EK Chung KF McCollum IT Elo HJ Lee JF Culhane (2004) ArticleTitleMaternal depressive symptoms and infant health practices among low-income women. Pediatrics 113 523–529 Occurrence Handle10.1542/peds.113.6.e523
TJ Dision RJ Mcmahon (1998) ArticleTitleParental monitoring and prevention of child and adolescent problem behavior: a conceptual and empirical formulation. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 1 61–75 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1021800432380 Occurrence Handle11324078
G Downey CC Coyne (1990) ArticleTitleChildren of depressed parents: an integrative review. Psychol Bull 108 50–67 Occurrence Handle10.1037/0033-2909.108.1.50 Occurrence Handle2200073
GM Felton MA Parson TR Misener S Oldaker (1997) ArticleTitleHealth-promoting behaviors of black and white college women. West J Nurs Red 19 654–666
S Goodman I Gotlib (1999) ArticleTitleRisk for psychopathology in the children of depressed mothers: a developmental model for understanding mechanisms of transmission. Psychol Rev 106 IssueID3 458–490 Occurrence Handle10.1037/0033-295X.106.3.458 Occurrence Handle10467895
Gordon BN (2003) Parenting practices. In: Ollendick TH, Schroeder CS (eds), Encyclopedia of clinical child and pediatric psychology. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publ., New York, pp. 447–451.
AM Heneghan EJ Silver LJ Bauman LE Westbrook REK Stein (1998) ArticleTitleDepressive symptoms in inner-city mothers of young children: who is at risk? Pediatrics 102 1394–1400 Occurrence Handle10.1542/peds.102.6.1394 Occurrence Handle9832575
RS Kahn B Zuckerman H Bauchner CJ Homer PH Wise (2002) ArticleTitleWomen’s health after pregnancy and child outcomes at age 3 years: a prospective cohort study. Am J Publ Health 92 IssueID8 1312–1318
JA Leiferman (2002) ArticleTitleThe effect of maternal depressive symptomatology on maternal behaviors associated with child health. Health Educat Behav 29 IssueID5 596–607 Occurrence Handle10.1177/109019802237027
JA Leinonen TS Solantaus RL Punamaki (2003) ArticleTitleParental mental health and children’s adjustment: the quality of marital interaction and parenting as mediating factors. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 44 IssueID2 227–241 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1469-7610.t01-1-00116 Occurrence Handle12587859
MC Lovejoy PA Graczyk E O’Hare G Neuman (2000) ArticleTitleMaternal depression and parenting behavior: a meta-analytic review. Clin Psychol Rev 20 IssueID5 561–592 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0272-7358(98)00100-7 Occurrence Handle10860167
CA McHorney JE Ware (1995) ArticleTitleConstruction and validation of an alternate form general mental health scale for the medical outcomes study short-form 36-item health survey. Med Care 33 IssueID1 15–28 Occurrence Handle7823644
CA McHorney JE Ware W Rogers AE Raczek JF Rachel-Lu (1992) ArticleTitleThe validity and relative precision of MOS short- and long-form health status scales and Dartmouth COOP charts. Med Care 30 IssueID5 MS253–MS265 Occurrence Handle1583937
CA McHorney JE Ware AE Raczek (1993) ArticleTitleThe MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36): II. Psychometric and clinical tests of validity in measuring physical and mental health constructs. Med Care 31 IssueID3 247–263 Occurrence Handle8450681
D Oyserman CT Mowbray PA MEares KB Firminger (2000) ArticleTitleParenting among mothers with a serious mental illness. Am J Orthopsychiatry 70 IssueID3 296–313 Occurrence Handle10953777
AL Stewart RD Hays JE Ware (1988) ArticleTitleThe MOS short-form general health survey: reliability and validity in a patient population. Med Care 26 724 Occurrence Handle3393032
JE Ware CD Sherbourne (1992) ArticleTitleThe MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36): I. conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care 30 473–481 Occurrence Handle1593914
MK Weinberg EZ TRonick (1998) ArticleTitleThe impact of maternal psychiatric illness on infant development. J Clin Psychiatry 59 53–61 Occurrence Handle9559760
N Weissman M Olfson (1995) ArticleTitleDepression in women: implications for health care research. Science 269 799–801 Occurrence Handle7638596
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leiferman, J., Ollendick, T., Kunkel, D. et al. Mothers’ mental distress and parenting practices with infants and toddlers. Arch Womens Ment Health 8, 243–247 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-005-0098-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-005-0098-4