{"id":22307,"date":"2025-10-09T23:44:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T22:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/?p=22307"},"modified":"2025-10-09T23:44:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T22:44:50","slug":"how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/","title":{"rendered":"How maternal depression may affect young children\u2019s development"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>This piece was written by Tamara Spiewak Toub in collaboration with study author Allison Frost. It is b<\/strong><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">ased on research originally published in: <\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Frost, A., Scherer, E., Chung, E. O., Gallis, J. A., Sanborn, K., Zhou, Y., Hagaman, A., LeMasters, K., Sikander, S., Turner, E., &amp; Maselko, J. (2025). <span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><a style=\"color: #00ccff;\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/01650254251327372\">Longitudinal pathways between maternal depression, parenting behaviors, and early childhood development: A mediation analysis.<\/a><\/span> <em>International Journal of Behavioral Development, 49<\/em>(3).\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #121c4e;color:#121c4e\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\" >Key takeaways for caregivers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#Mothers_emotional_well-being_and_childrens_development\" >Mothers&#8217; emotional well-being and children&#8217;s development<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#Exploring_links_among_mothers_depression_their_parenting_behaviors_and_childrens_development\" >Exploring links among mothers\u2019 depression, their parenting behaviors, and children\u2019s development<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#Who_participated_in_the_study\" >Who participated in the study?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#How_did_we_measure_maternal_depression_parenting_behaviors_and_childrens_outcomes\" >How did we measure maternal depression, parenting behaviors, and children&#8217;s outcomes?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#What_did_we_find\" >What did we find?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#Remaining_mysteries_behind_the_link_between_maternal_depression_and_childrens_socioemotional_challenges\" >Remaining mysteries behind the link between maternal depression and children\u2019s socioemotional challenges<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#What_other_elements_of_childrens_own_experiences_families_or_communities_might_play_a_role\" >What other elements of children\u2019s own experiences, families, or communities might play a role?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/how-maternal-depression-may-affect-young-childrens-development\/#What_can_caregivers_and_communities_do_while_researchers_keep_exploring\" >What can caregivers and communities do while researchers keep exploring?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_takeaways_for_caregivers\"><\/span><strong>Key takeaways for caregivers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Children learn, and their brains grow, partially through watching and interacting with their parents.<\/li>\n<li>Prior research in various communities has revealed that children whose mothers are clinically depressed tend to develop differently than children whose mothers are not depressed. They are also at higher risk for having social, emotional, or other struggles.<\/li>\n<li>In our recent study in rural Pakistan, children whose mothers were depressed when the children were one\u00a0 year old showed greater emotional and behavioral difficulties at age three than those whose mothers were not depressed.<\/li>\n<li>We explored whether parenting behaviors serve as a bridge connecting maternal depression and children\u2019s development. We asked: Do depressed mothers show less warmth or harsher parenting than mothers who are not depressed? Could this explain why children of depressed mothers develop differently?<\/li>\n<li>In our study, mothers with <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/tag\/depression\/\">depression<\/a> were observed using more harsh parenting behaviors, such as looking angry or saying mean or critical things, than mothers without depression. But the mothers\u2019 warmth toward their children did not differ.<\/li>\n<li>Parenting behaviors, including harsh parenting, did not explain the link between maternal depression and children\u2019s development. Other factors, such as stress, division of caregiving responsibilities, living conditions, and children\u2019s biology or behaviors, may play important roles.<\/li>\n<li>While more research is needed, supporting maternal well-being and encouraging caregiving without harshness can benefit children\u2019s early development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_22394\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22394\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22394\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-1536x1075.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-2048x1433.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-356x249.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-700x490.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/pexels-kamaji-ogino-5094013-50x35.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22394\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/happy-ethnic-mother-mother-hugging-and-kissing-playful-little-daughter-5094013\/\">Kamaji Ogino<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mothers_emotional_well-being_and_childrens_development\"><\/span>Mothers&#8217; emotional well-being and children&#8217;s development<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many caregivers and professionals wonder how a mother\u2019s emotional well-being affects her child\u2019s development, especially when mothers struggle with clinical depression. Distinct from the sadness that most people feel occasionally, clinical depression involves a persistent loss of interest or engagement, changes in sleep and appetite, and a level of emotional distress that interferes with daily life &#8211; often lasting for weeks or longer.<\/p>\n<p>In low- and middle-income countries, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2023.0069\">roughly one in four mothers<\/a> experiences postnatal depression in the year after childbirth. Mothers frequently suffer from depression in higher income countries, too.<\/p>\n<h3>Why maternal depression is a public health priority<\/h3>\n<p>Extensive research has <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/maternal-depression-performance-school\/\">linked maternal depression to challenges<\/a> in children\u2019s physical, <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/cognitive-development-language\/\">cognitive<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/social-emotional-development\/\">emotional development<\/a>, making it a major public health priority for families and communities worldwide. Investigating how or why mothers\u2019 depression connects to children\u2019s emotions, behaviors, and skills improves our understanding and can ultimately help communities <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/neuroscience-parental-influence-shape-our-experiences\/\">provide families with more effective support<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exploring_links_among_mothers_depression_their_parenting_behaviors_and_childrens_development\"><\/span>Exploring links among mothers\u2019 depression, their parenting behaviors, and children\u2019s development<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/01650254251327372\">study<\/a>, we focused on the potential role of parenting behaviors in the link between mothers\u2019 depression and children\u2019s development. We asked: Do mothers with a history of depression show different patterns in their parenting than mothers who have not been depressed?<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms of depression can get in the way of positive parenting behaviors.For example, some mothers with depression may be more likely to withdraw from their children, show less warmth in their interactions, or express more anger and negativity. Do such differences in parenting explain the link between maternal depression and children\u2019s development?<\/p>\n<p>We focus here on children\u2019s socioemotional development, such as symptoms of anxiety or depression or struggles with behavior or peer relationships.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_participated_in_the_study\"><\/span>Who participated in the study?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>More than 840 families in rural villages in Pakistan participated in our longitudinal study. Researchers followed families from the time children were one year old through the time they were three years old. About half the children were boys and about half were girls. At the start of the study, mothers were between 18 and 45 years old (about 26 years old on average) and were married.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">Most of the families lived in extended-family households<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">, with <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">parents and children <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">living together with other relatives (<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">e.g.,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\"> the parents\u2019 siblings<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\"> the grandparents)<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">which is <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">very common<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\"> in rural Pakistani villages. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">In terms of formal education, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">m<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">others<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\"> and fathers each had <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">from no<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">ne<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\"> to 18 years, with the average being <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">about <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">seven<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\"> to <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">nine<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\"> years<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW54036443 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW54036443 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22311\" style=\"width: 2570px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22311\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22311\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-356x237.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-alby-25578625-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22311\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/mother-in-pink-veil-embracing-little-son-25578625\/\">Albin Biju<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_did_we_measure_maternal_depression_parenting_behaviors_and_childrens_outcomes\"><\/span>How did we measure maternal depression, parenting behaviors, and children&#8217;s outcomes?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\">Over three yearly time points, we used a combination of established, structural interviews<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\">;<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\"> parent surveys<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\">;<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\"> and observations of mothers interacting with their children to help us <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\">identify<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\"> patterns across the families<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205245510 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW205245510 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Maternal depression (when children were one year old)<\/h3>\n<p>Researchers used a common and internationally respected interview approach to determine which mothers were experiencing clinical levels of depression. Mothers were categorized as \u201cdepressed\u201d or \u201cnot depressed\u201d based on their reports of specific symptoms (e.g., sadness; lack of interest in daily life; disturbances in sleeping, eating, or concentration) and the severity of those symptoms, including whether the symptoms interfered with their daily lives.<\/p>\n<p>The use of a simple cut-off is valuable for dividing mothers into these two groups for clinical and research purposes. However, mothers\u2019 experiences varied along a spectrum, and even the mothers characterized as \u201cnot depressed\u201d could have experienced some degree of sadness and other disturbances.<\/p>\n<h3>Mothers\u2019 parenting behaviors (when children were two years old)<\/h3>\n<p>Mothers were invited to play and talk with their young children while looking at a picture book provided by researchers. Trained observers watched mothers and noted how much they showed three specific parenting behaviors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Warmth: showing affection through positive physical touch, such as snuggles, and positive, encouraging talk (\u201cYay! You found it, Sweetie!\u201d)<\/li>\n<li>Stimulation: challenging the child to think and engage, such as by asking questions and pointing to items in the book (\u201cWhat will they do with this ball?\u201d)<\/li>\n<li>Harshness: looking or sounding negative, such as yelling, verbally expressing anger or being critical (\u201cStop fooling around! We\u2019re supposed to be looking at this book!\u201d).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Children\u2019s socioemotional outcomes (when children were three years old)<\/h3>\n<p>Mothers completed established questionnaires, rating their children\u2019s levels of various challenges (anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, trouble behaving appropriately, and problems with peers).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_did_we_find\"><\/span>What did we find?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">Our main question was: <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">D<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">o <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">observed<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\"> parenting behaviors explain<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\"> \u2013 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">or mediate<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\"> \u2013 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">the links between earlier maternal depression and later child<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">ren\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\"> outcomes? In other words, do differences in parenting help account for why children of depressed mothers might show more challenges? To dig into this<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\"> query<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW146196661 BCX0\">, we broke it down into steps.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW146196661 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Children of depressed mothers experienced more socioemotional challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">F<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">irst<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">, we<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\"> confirmed that the general patterns found in prior studies <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">on<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">maternal depression and children\u2019s development were <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">evident<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">in our study, too. We <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">established<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\"> that just over 18% of <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">the<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">Pakistani mothers <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">in our study <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">had depression when their children were <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\">one<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36479024 BCX0\"> year old.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW36479024 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">Also, compared to children whose mothers were not depressed, the children of depressed mothers showed more emotional and behavioral challenges at age <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">three<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\"> \u2013 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">such as signs of sadness<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">or<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\"> irritability, behavior problems, or trouble <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">getting along<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\"> with peers. While the mothers\u2019 mood-related biases might have <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">affec<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">ted<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">their reports of children\u2019s challenges and these findings, the general pattern is consistent with research that has used measures without such <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">possible bias<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW194495279 BCX0\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW194495279 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Just over 18% of these Pakistani mothers had depression when their children were 1 year old.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The next question was whether mothers with depression showed differences in parenting behaviors compared to mothers without depression. Could that help explain why these two groups of children showed differences in socioemotional development?<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Only some parenting behaviors differed between depressed and not depressed mothers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>During the play session with the picture book when children were two years old, mothers who were depressed a year earlier were more likely to show <a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/harsh-parenting-effects\/\">harsh parenting<\/a> behaviors than mothers who had not been depressed.<\/p>\n<p>However, other parenting behaviors, like warmth and stimulation, were similar across the two groups of mothers. In fact, both depressed and non-depressed mothers showed very high levels of warmth when interacting with their children.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>None of the parenting behaviors were related to children\u2019s socioemotional development<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>While we saw some differences in mothers\u2019 levels of harsh parenting, none of the parenting behaviors were related to children\u2019s later socioemotional development.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Remaining_mysteries_behind_the_link_between_maternal_depression_and_childrens_socioemotional_challenges\"><\/span><strong>Remaining mysteries behind the link between maternal depression and children\u2019s socioemotional challenges<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW87938930 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW87938930 BCX0\">Our findings confirmed <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW87938930 BCX0\">the typical pattern of children having more socioemotional struggles <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW87938930 BCX0\">when<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW87938930 BCX0\"> their mothers were depressed. In a new layer of investigation, we found that parenting behaviors did not explain the link between maternal depression and children\u2019s socioemotional development.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW87938930 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Possible limitations of the study<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\">T<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\">his result <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\">might be<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\"> specific to the cultural context of <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\">our<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\">study. In rural Pakistan, caregiving is often shared by grandparents or extended family<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\">, which <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW228972595 BCX0\">may lessen some effects of mothers\u2019 depression or parenting behaviors.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW228972595 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">Also, the brief play period <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">with<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">mothers and their <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">two-year-olds <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">might not have provided enough of a peek into <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">families\u2019 typical interactions to capture stronger patterns in parenting behaviors. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">D<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">ifferences in depressed mothers\u2019 parenting <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">may<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">be more<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">apparent<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\"> when they are <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">engaged in<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">daily activities with their children, such as getting them dressed, feeding them, or getting them ready for bed.<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">Thus,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\"> in different settings<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">,<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">parenting behaviors <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">may play a substantial role <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW230736681 BCX0\">in the link between maternal depression and children\u2019s social and emotional health.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW230736681 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_other_elements_of_childrens_own_experiences_families_or_communities_might_play_a_role\"><\/span><strong>What other elements of children\u2019s own experiences, families, or communities might play a role?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We used statistical techniques to ensure that the connections we found among maternal depression, parenting behaviors, and children\u2019s development were not due to other known differences among families, such as parents\u2019 level of education, family wealth, or mothers\u2019 experiences with violence in a recent relationship or traumatic situations in their childhood.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We did not measure other possibilities<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> that may play bigger roles \u2013 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">like family stress, disrupted routines, or children\u2019s biology. Relationships between parents and children are complicated, with many factors affecting both the adults and the children. In addition, children\u2019s personalities and behaviors affect their mothers\u2019 parenting, too \u2013 the influence goes both ways.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While we do not know exactly how maternal depression is linked to children\u2019s outcomes, we do know that mothers with depression, and their children, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/cdev.12732\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">benefit from extra support<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22310\" style=\"width: 1716px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22310\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22310\" src=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1706\" height=\"1147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444.jpg 1706w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444-1024x688.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444-1536x1033.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444-356x239.jpg 356w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444-700x471.jpg 700w, https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/pexels-ekam-juneja-61080223-19810785-scaled-e1755734861444-50x34.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1706px) 100vw, 1706px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22310\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/hands-of-elderly-and-young-woman-19810785\/\">Ekam Juneja<\/a> on Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_caregivers_and_communities_do_while_researchers_keep_exploring\"><\/span>What can caregivers and communities do while researchers keep exploring?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/treatment-depression-parenting-training\/\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Support maternal mental health<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Depression is more than sadness \u2013 it affects energy, connection, and daily life. It is a common problem that needs attention worldwide. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/parental-support-fathers-pakistan\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Programs that support mothers may also benefit their children and families<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"Aptos\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reduce harshness in caregiving.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The link between harsh parenting and children\u2019s development was not strong in our study, but other research has documented problems with these parenting behaviors. Evidence from these studies shows benefits of parenting strategies that emphasize <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.copsyc.2017.02.012\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">warmth and tailored support within healthy boundaries<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Recognize the many contributors that shape children\u2019s development.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> This research reminds us to look beyond parenting to factors like caregiving environments, family structure, access to services, and stressors affecting the whole household.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<blockquote><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It is often helpful when other family members, friends, and neighbors lend a hand to parents, give them some time for self-care, and bond with young children.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The saying \u201cit takes a village\u201d captures the idea that communities can support children\u2019s development by sharing responsibilities. It is often helpful when other family members, friends, and neighbors lend a hand to parents, give them some time for self-care, and bond with young children.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In these ways, the impact of any one person or experience may be reduced. When <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/depression-parenting-early-childhood-development-social-support\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">children rely on a broader network of supports<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, these types of assistance can balance each other out as needed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:300,&quot;335559739&quot;:300}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This piece was written by Tamara Spiewak Toub in collaboration with study author Allison Frost. It is based on research originally published in: Frost, A., Scherer, E., Chung, E. O., Gallis, J. A., Sanborn, K., Zhou, Y., Hagaman, A., LeMasters, K., Sikander, S., Turner, E., &amp; Maselko, J. (2025). Longitudinal pathways between maternal depression, parenting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":347,"featured_media":22309,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[438],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22307"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/347"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22307"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22461,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22307\/revisions\/22461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/childandfamilyblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}