Correlates of depressed mothers' sensitivity toward their infants: the role of maternal, child, and contextual characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To examine various maternal, child, and contextual characteristics, as well as the number of risk factors present, to distinguish which factors explain variance in the sensitivity of depressed mothers toward their infants.


METHODS
Participants were depressed mothers (n = 84) with their infants ages 1 month up to 1 year. Mothers were videotaped while bathing their children. The recordings were rated using the sensitivity scale of the Emotional Availability Scales.


RESULTS
Three characteristics independently contributed to the explained variance in maternal sensitivity: level of education, feelings of parental incompetence, and family income. In addition, two subgroups were found to be particularly at risk: young mothers with high levels of depressive symptoms and low-income mothers who felt insecure about their parental competence. Together, these factors explained 23% of the variation in sensitivity in our sample of depressed mothers. The number of risk factors explained 9.8% of the variation in sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results have implications for preventive interventions. Identifying specific groups at risk for low maternal sensitivity at an early stage may lead to favorable outcomes of targeted interventions that focus on enhancing depressed mothers' maternal sensitivity and feelings of parental competence.
van Doesum
Karin T M
KTM
Ms. van Doesum is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen and the Community Mental Health Center, RIAGG IJsselland; Dr. Hosman is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, and Dr. Riksen-Walraven is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen; and Dr. Hoefnagels is with the Department of Health Promotion, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: k.vandoesum@riagg.ijsselland.nl.
Hosman
Clemens M H
CMH
Ms. van Doesum is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen and the Community Mental Health Center, RIAGG IJsselland; Dr. Hosman is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, and Dr. Riksen-Walraven is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen; and Dr. Hoefnagels is with the Department of Health Promotion, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Riksen-Walraven
J Marianne
JM
Ms. van Doesum is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen and the Community Mental Health Center, RIAGG IJsselland; Dr. Hosman is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, and Dr. Riksen-Walraven is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen; and Dr. Hoefnagels is with the Department of Health Promotion, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Hoefnagels
Cees
C
Ms. van Doesum is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen and the Community Mental Health Center, RIAGG IJsselland; Dr. Hosman is with the Prevention Research Center, Department of Clinical Psychology, and Dr. Riksen-Walraven is with the Department of Developmental Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen; and Dr. Hoefnagels is with the Department of Health Promotion, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009426:Netherlands; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D014743:Videotape Recording