title: Language Delays and Child Depressive Symptoms: the Role of Early Stimulation in the Home.
abstract: The present study investigated the role of early stimulation in the home and child language delays in the emergence of depressive symptoms. Data were from a longitudinal study of at-risk children in Hawaii (n = 587). Low learning stimulation in the home at age 3 and language delays in first grade both significantly increased risk for child depressive symptoms in third grade. Structural equation modeling supported the hypothesized path models from home learning environment at age 3 to depressive symptoms in third grade controlling for a host of correlated constructs (maternal depression, child temperament, and child internalizing symptoms). Total language skills in the first grade mediated the effect of home learning environment on depressive symptoms. The study and findings fit well with a nurturing environment perspective. Implications for understanding the etiology of child depression and for designing interventions and prevention strategies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, USA. hermanke@missouri.edu.|Department of Educational, School, & Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri-Columbia, 16 Hill Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. hermanke@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Keith C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Latimore
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Reinke
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burrell
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duggan
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Children; Depressive symptoms; Home learning environment; Language delays