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Maternal Depression and Child Externalizing Behaviors: The Role of Attachment Across Development in Low-income Families

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Abstract

Early attachment quality may be a lasting source of vulnerability or protection in children’s development. In this study, we examine whether attachment quality at age three moderates the impact of subsequent exposure to maternal depression (at age five or nine) on children’s externalizing symptoms at age nine. The sample included 1,917 low-income families (mean child age = 9.28; 55.9% African-American, 20.6% White, 20.0% Latina, 3.5% Other) from the Fragile Families and Child Well Being Study. At age three, 23.9% of children were categorized as insecurely attached based on maternal report of their child’s attachment behaviors. At age nine, mothers, teachers, and children reported on the child’s externalizing behaviors. Mothers also completed measures of maternal depression at child age three, five, and nine. Controlling for age three externalizing (by maternal report) and age three maternal depression as well as various demographic factors, attachment quality interacted with exposure to subsequent maternal depression in predicting externalizing behaviors at age nine. Interaction effects were evident in mother, teacher, and child report of externalizing. Across all three reporters, exposure to maternal depression was associated with greater externalizing behaviors in children who exhibited insecure attachment behaviors at age three. These findings highlight the potential benefit of interventions to improve early parent–child relationships for families at elevated risk because of maternal mental health.

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Notes

  1. A small percentage (about 5%) of children were scored high in security and dependency, and these children were categorized as insecure.

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  1. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road U1020, Storrs, 06269, CT, USA

    Christina Carlone & Stephanie Milan

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  1. Christina Carlone
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Supplementary file1: Supplemental Table 1: A breakdown of demographic characteristics by each attachment and exposure to subsequent maternal depression group (DOCX 18.9 kb)

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Carlone, C., Milan, S. Maternal Depression and Child Externalizing Behaviors: The Role of Attachment Across Development in Low-income Families. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 49, 603–614 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00747-z

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