Maternal depressive symptoms at 2 to 4 months post partum and early parenting practices.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether maternal depressive symptoms, reported when infants are 2 to 4 months old, are associated with mothers' early parenting practices.


METHODS
Secondary data analyses collected from the National Evaluation of Healthy Steps for Young Children. Data sources included newborn enrollment questionnaires and parent interviews when infants were 2 to 4 months old. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.


METHODS
Twenty-four pediatric practices across the United States.


METHODS
A total of 5565 families enrolled in Healthy Steps; 4874 mothers (88%) completed 2- to 4-month interviews and provided Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale data; 17.8% of mothers reported having depressive symptoms.


METHODS
Ten parenting practices assessed in 3 domains: safety (sleep position and lowering water temperature), feeding (cereal, water, or juice; continuing breastfeeding), and practices to promote child development (showing books, playing with infant, talking to infant, and following 2 or more routines).


RESULTS
Mothers with and without depressive symptoms reported similar uses of safety and feeding practices. Mothers with depressive symptoms had reduced odds of continuing breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.88), showing books (AOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.97), playing with the infant (AOR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54-0.90), talking to the infant (AOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.86), and following routines (AOR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.52-0.72).


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal depressive symptoms are common in early infancy and contribute to unfavorable parenting practices.
McLearn
Kathryn Taaffe
KT
National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Minkovitz
Cynthia S
CS
Strobino
Donna M
DM
Marks
Elisabeth
E
Hou
William
W
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors