Date of Award

Fall 2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Psychology

Committee Director

James F. Paulson

Committee Member

Michelle L. Kelley

Committee Member

Bryan E. Porter

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.P65 O38 2013

Abstract

Perinatal depression is a public health problem in the United States and is problematic because care by depressed mothers is a documented risk for poorer cognitive outcomes in children. Similarly, low-income is a well-established risk factor for cognitive development in children (Kurstjens & Wolke, 2001; Murray 1992). Although there is no study that addresses whether maternal depression and low-income negatively impact child cognitive development through the same mechanisms, the research on experiences that mitigate the negative effects of low-income may suggest experiences that might also mitigate the effects of postpartum depression. Multiple studies have found that daycare is a protective factor for child cognitive development in children from low-income families, but few studies address how to protect children of depressed mothers from possible adverse outcomes. Utilizing data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, this study focused on child daycare as a protective factor in the cognitive and language development of children with depressed mothers. Participants were from 10 locations around the United States. Measures assessed postnatal depressive symptoms (Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CESD; Radloff, 1977), child cognitive development (Bayley Scales of Infant Development; Bayley, 1991 ), child language development (MacArthur Communicative Development Scales; Fenson, Dale, Reznick, Thal, & Reilly, 1991 ), and daycare quality (ObservationRatings of the Caregiving Environment; NICDH Early Child Care Research Network, 1999). Chronic depression was considered and defined as depressed at two or more times of the four times measured. A series of ANCOV As were conducted to examine: a) whether chronic maternal depression had a negative impact on cognitive and language development outcomes in children at 24 months; and b) if children of chronically depressed mothers who were cared for in high-quality daycare instead of at home with the mother had better cognitive and language outcomes. Overall, findings revealed that the cognitive development of male children only was negatively impacted by maternal postpartum depression. The same was not true for females, and there was no effect of maternal depression on child language development. Daycare and other alternative forms of childcare did not act as protective factors for the cognitive and language development of children with depressed mothers.

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