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Chronic Maternal Depression and Children's Injury Risk
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Chronic Maternal Depression and Children's Injury Risk

David C. Schwebel and Carl M. Brezausek
Journal of pediatric psychology, Vol.33(10), pp.1108-1116
11/01/2008
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsn046
PMCID: PMC2734122
PMID: 18474518

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Abstract

Objective A substantial number of mothers of young children suffer from depression. One understudied consequence of maternal depression is how it affects toddlers injury risk. This study examined links between chronic maternal depression and child injury. Methods A national sample of 1,364 American children was studied. Results Chronic levels of severe maternal depression placed children at increased risk of concurrent injury from birth to age 3. The relation between chronic, severe maternal depression and child injury risk held even after controlling for variance from family SES, child sex, child temperament and externalizing behavior, and parenting. Chronic maternal depression during infancy and toddlerhood did not influence childrens subsequent risk for injury, between age 3 and first grade. Less severe symptoms of chronic maternal depression were unrelated to concurrent or future child injury. Conclusions Chronic, severe levels of maternal depression are linked to concurrent child injury risk during infancy and toddlerhood.
Psychology Psychology, Developmental Social Sciences

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