title: The relation of maternal sensitivity to children's internalizing and externalizing problems within the context of maternal depressive symptoms.
abstract: Maternal depression has been linked to deficits in parenting that contribute to youth's development of externalizing and/or internalizing problems. Maternal sensitivity has been implicated within the infant literature as a foundational aspect of parenting contributing to a child's adjustment. This study examines the main and moderating effects of a construct labeled maternal sensitivity, within the context of depressive symptoms, on youth externalizing and internalizing problems in a sample of 65 mothers with a history of depression and their 84 children ages 9-15 years. Sensitivity was related to child externalizing problems. Although two-way interactions were not significant, exploratory moderation analyses indicated a significant three-way interaction among maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and youth gender for internalizing problems: among girls only, high depressive symptoms, low sensitivity, and the combination of these two variables were each associated with high levels of internalizing problems.
authors: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors: Emily Priscilla
authors: EP
authors: Garai
authors: Rex L
authors: RL
authors: Forehand
authors: Christina J M
authors: CJ
authors: Colletti
authors: Kristen
authors: K
authors: Reeslund
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Potts
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Compas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018579:Patient Selection; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires