Maternal depressive symptoms: Associations with adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems and social competence

Abstract

Background: The negative effect of maternal depressive symptoms on child wellbeing has been quite extensively studied. There is, however, debate as to whether it is the timing, the recurrence or the chronicity of maternal depressive symptoms that puts the child's wellbeing at risk. Aims: This study explores the associations between the timing, recurrence and the patterns of maternal depressive symptoms and adolescent psychosocial functioning. Methods: One hundred and ninety-one mothers and 192 adolescents were followed up from the mother's pregnancy to the child's adolescence. Maternal depressive symptoms were screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale prenatally, postnatally, in early and middle childhood, and at adolescence. The adolescents’ outcomes were screened using Child Behavior Checklists and Youth Self Reports. Results: The results indicate that the initial exposure to maternal depressive symptoms at pregnancy is associated with more externalizing problems in adolescence, 2 months postnatally with more internalizing problems, in early childhood with poorer social competence and concurrently with more externalizing problems. Combined analyses indicate that recurrent maternal depressive symptoms best explain adolescents’ internalizing problems and the chronic pattern of maternal depressive symptoms externalizing problems. The chronic and intermittent patterns of maternal depressive symptoms best explained adolescents’ poorer social competence. Conclusions: Recurrent or chronic maternal depressive symptoms rather than the timing predict adolescents’ psychosocial problems better. The timing, however, may explain the different kinds of problems in adolescence depending on the developmental task at the time of the exposure. The findings should be noted when treating both mothers and children in psychiatric clinics and other health services.

• Externalizing problems
• Internalizing problems
• Maternal depressive symptoms
• Social competence

Acknowledgements

We kindly thank Mrs. Virginia Mattila for checking the language. We also thank M.Sc. Mika Helminen for contributing the trajectory analysis.

Declaration of interest: This study was supported by grants from the Medical Research Fund of the Tampere University Hospital, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Foundation for Paediatric Research, the Academy of Finland, Odd Fellows Organisation and the University of Tampere. The funding sources had no further role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The writers report no disclosures of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.