Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the impact of maternal depressive disorders on children’s behaviors are still poorly understood, especially those concerning positive practices. This systematic review is intended to fill in this gap by taking into account the direct or mediating effects of maternal positive parenting practices. The main objective was to identify and analyze the methodologies and the main results reported by recent empirical studies that addressed the positive parenting practices of mothers with depression and their potential influence on children’s behavioral problems and socialization. PRISMA normative guidelines were adopted and were included studies published from 2008 to 2020 and indexed to the main databases. The following combination of keywords was used: Parenting, Maternal Depress* and Depress* Mother. Thirty-two studies were analyzed, and 25 studies of which presented significant direct or mediating effects for positive parenting practices on children’s outcomes. Low levels of these practices intensified internalizing and externalizing problems, while high levels increased children’s social adjustment resources. These findings indicate that maternal positive parenting, in the context of maternal depression, eased children’s behavior problems and favored socialization, which highlights the importance of preventive measures intended to improve the positive parenting skills of depressed mothers, as a way to prevent problems and promote children’s mental health.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The data came from the analysis of thirty-two previously published papers included in this review, indexed in the PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, LILACS, and SciELO databases.
References
Achenbach, T. M., Becker, A., Döpfner, M., Heiervang, E., Roessner, V., Steinhausen, H. C., & Rothenberger, A. (2008). Multicultural assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology with ASEBA and SDQ instruments: Research findings, applications, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 49(3), 251–275. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01867.x
Ahun, M. N., Consoli, A., Pingault, J. B., Falissard, B., Battaglia, M., Boivin, M., et al. (2017). Maternal depression symptoms and internalising problems in the offspring: The role of maternal and family factors. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 27(7), 921–932. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-017-1096-6
American Psychiatric Association. (2014). Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais – DSM-5 (5a ed.). Artmed Editora.
Aunola, K., Ruusunen, A.-K., Viljaranta, J., & Nurmi, J. E. (2013). Parental affection and psychological control as mediators between parents’ depressive symptoms and child distress. Journal of Family Issues, 36(8), 1022–1042. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X13494825
Baker, E. A., DeLuca Bishop, H., Stigall, L. A., & van Dulmen, M. (2018). Positive parental engagement: Investigating the role of the mother-father relationship. Journal of Family Psychology: JFP: Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 32(8), 1005–1014. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000470
Barry, T. D., Dunlap, S. T., Lochman, J. E., & Wells, K. C. (2009). Inconsistent discipline as a mediator between maternal distress and aggression in boys. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 31(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317100802701186
Blatt-Eisengart, I., Drabick, D. A. G., Monahan, K. C., & Steinberg, L. (2009). Sex differences in the longitudinal relations among family risk factors and childhood externalizing symptoms. Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 491–502. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014942
Bödeker, K., Fuchs, A., Führer, D., Kluczniok, D., Dittrich, K., Reichl, C., et al. (2019). Impact of maternal early life maltreatment and maternal history of depression on child psychopathology: Mediating role of maternal sensitivity? Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 50, 278–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-018-0839-z
Fernandez Castelao, C., & Kröner-Herwig, B. (2014). Developmental trajectories and predictors of externalizing behavior: A comparison of girls and boys. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(5), 775–789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-0011-9
Charrois, J., Côté, S. M., Paquin, S., Séguin, J. R., Japel, C., Vitaro, F., et al. (2019). Maternal depression in early childhood and child emotional and behavioral outcomes at school age: Examining the roles of preschool childcare quality and current maternal depression symptomatology. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-019-01385-7
Choe, D. E., Olson, S. L., & Sameroff, A. J. (2013). Effects of early maternal distress and parenting on the development of children’s self-regulation and externalizing behavior. Development and Psychopathology, 25(2), 437–453. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579412001162
Cicchetti, D., & Handley, E. D. (2019). Child maltreatment and the development of substance use and disorder. Neurobiology of Stress, 10, 100–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynstr.2018.100144
Criss, M. M., Shaw, D. S., Moilanen, K. L., Hitchings, J. E., & Ingoldsby, E. M. (2009). Family, neighborhood, and peer characteristics as predictors of child adjustment: A longitudinal analysis of additive and mediation models. Social Development, 18(3), 511–535. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2008.00520.x
Degnan, K. A., Henderson, H. A., Fox, N. A., & Rubin, K. H. (2008). Predicting social wariness in middle childhood: The moderating roles of child care history, maternal personality and maternal behavior. Social Developments, 17(3), 471–487. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2007.00437.x
Dette-Hagenmeyer, D. E., & Reichle, B. (2014). Parents’ depressive symptoms and children’s adjustment over time are mediated by parenting, but differentially for fathers and mothers. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 11(2), 196–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2013.848789
Dubois-Comtois, K., Moss, E., Cyr, C., & Pascuzzo, K. (2013). Behavior problems in middle childhood: The predictive role of maternal distress, child attachment, and mother–child interactions. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 41(8), 1311–1324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-013-9764-6
Eme, R. (2017). Developmental psychopathology: A primer for clinical pediatrics. World Journal of Psychiatry, 7(3), 159–162. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v7.i3.159
Foster, C. E., Garber, J., & Durlak, J. A. (2008a). Current and past maternal depression, maternal interaction behaviors, and children’s externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(4), 527–537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-007-9197-1
Foster, C. E., Webster, M. C., Weissman, M. M., Pilowsky, D. J., Wickramaratne, P. J., Rush, A. J., et al. (2008b). Course and severity of maternal depression: Associations with family functioning and child adjustment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37(8), 906–916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9216-0
Gallitto, E. (2015). Temperament as a moderator of the effects of parenting on children’s behavior. Developmental Psychopathology, 27(3), 757–773. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579414000753
Garai, E. P., Forehand, R. L., Colletti, C. J. M., Reeslund, K., Potts, J., & Compas, B. (2009). The relation of maternal sensitivity to children’s internalizing and externalizing problems within the context of maternal depressive symptoms. Behavior Modification, 33(5), 559–582. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445509342581
Gershoff, E. T., & Grogan-Kaylor, A. (2016). Spanking and child outcomes: old controversies and new meta-analyses. Journal of Family Psychology: JFP: Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 30(4), 453–469. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000191
Giallo, R., Cooklin, A., Wade, C., D’Esposito, F., & Nicholson, J. M. (2014). Maternal postnatal mental health and later emotional-behavioural development of children: The mediating role of parenting behaviour. Child: Care, Health and Development, 40(3), 327–336. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12028
González-Cámara, M., Osorio, A., & Reparaz, C. (2019). Measurement and function of the control dimension in parenting styles: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16, 31–57. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173157
Goodman, S. H., Rouse, M. H., Connell, A. M., Broth, M. R., Hall, C. M., & Heyward, D. (2011). Maternal depression and child psychopathology: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 14(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-010-0080-1
Kuckertz, J. M., Mitchell, C., & Wiggins, J. L. (2018). Parenting mediates the impact of maternal depression on child internalizing symptoms. Depression and Anxiety, 35(1), 89–97. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22688
Laurin, J. C., Joussemet, M., Tremblay, R. E., & Boivin, M. (2015). Early forms of controlling parenting and the development of childhood anxiety. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(11), 3279–3292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s1082
Masten, A. S. (2018). Resilience theory and research on children and families: Past, present, and promise. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10(1), 12–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12255
McKee, L., Forehand, R., Rakow, A., Reeslund, K., Roland, E., Hardcastle, E., & Compas, B. (2008). Parenting specificity an examination of the relation between three parenting behaviors and child problem behaviors in the context of a history of caregiver depression. Behavior Modification, 32(5), 638–658. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445508316550
Middleton, M., Scott, S. L., & Renk, K. (2009). Parental depression, parenting behaviours, and behaviour problems in young children. Infant and Child Development, 18(4), 323–336. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.598
Moss, K. M., Loxton, D., Dobson, A. J., Slaughter, V., & Mishra, G. D. (2020). Testing competing mediators of the association between pre-conception maternal depression and child health-related quality of life: The MatCH study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 23(1), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-019-01014-x
Mulder, T. M., Kuiper, K. C., van der Put, C. E., Stams, G., & Assink, M. (2018). Risk factors for child neglect: A meta-analytic review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 77, 198–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.01.006
Nantel-Vivier, A., Pihl, R. O., Côté, S., & Tremblay, R. E. (2014). Developmental association of prosocial behaviour with aggression, anxiety and depression from infancy to preadolescence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 55(10), 1135–1144. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12235
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372: n71. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n71
Piché, G., Bergeron, L., Cyr, M., & Berthiaume, C. (2011a). Interaction effects between maternal lifetime depression/anxiety disorders and correlates of children’s externalizing symptoms. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(5), 596–604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-010-9433-0
Piché, G., Bergeron, L., Cyr, M., & Berthiaume, C. (2011b). Maternal lifetime depressive/anxiety disorders and children’s internalizing symptoms: The importance of family context. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(3), 176–185
Priel, A., Djalovski, A., Zagoory-Sharon, O., & Feldman, R. (2019). Maternal depression impacts child psychopathology across the first decade of life: Oxytocin and synchrony as markers of resilience. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 60(1), 30–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12880
Psychogiou, L., & Parry, E. (2014). Why do depressed individuals have difficulties in their parenting role? Psychological Medicine, 44(7), 1345–1347. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291713001931
Raikes, H. A., & Thompson, R. A. (2008). Attachment security and parenting quality predict children’s problem-solving, attributions, and loneliness with peers. Attachment & Human Development, 10(3), 319–344. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616730802113620
Rajyaguru, P., Moran, P., Cordero, M., & Pearson, R. (2019). Disciplinary parenting practice and child mental health: Evidence from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 58(1), 108–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.06.033
Saputra, F., Yunibhandb, J., & Sukratul, S. (2017). Relationship between personal, maternal, and familial factors with mental health problems in school-aged children in Aceh province, Indonesia. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 25, 207–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2016.10.025
Swartz, H. A., Cyranowski, J. M., Cheng, Y., & Amole, M. (2018). Moderators and mediators of a maternal depression treatment study: Impact of maternal trauma and parenting on child outcomes. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 86, 123–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.08.001
Toth, S. L., & Cicchetti, D. (2010). The historical origins and developmental pathways of the discipline of developmental psychopathology. Israel Journal Psychiatry Related Sciences, 47(2), 95–104
Vafaeenejad, Z., Elyasi, F., Moosazadeh, M., & Shahhosseini, Z. (2018). Psychological factors contributing to parenting styles: A systematic review. F1000Research, 7, 906. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.14978.1
Valdez, C. R., Shewakramani, V., Goldberg, S., & Padilla, B. (2013). Parenting influences on Latino children’s social competence in the first grade: Parental depression and parent involvement at home and school. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 44(5), 646–657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-013-0358-x
van der Molen, E., Hipwell, A. E., Vermeiren, R., & Loeber, R. (2011). Maternal characteristics predicting young girls’ disruptive behavior. Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology: The official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53, 40(2), 179–190. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2011.546042
van der Molen, E., Hipwell, A. E., Vermeiren, R., & Loeber, R. (2012). Cumulative effects of mothers’ risk and promotive factors on daughters’ disruptive behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40(5), 727–739. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9595-2
van Doorn, M. M. E. M., Kuijpers, R. C. W. M., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Bodden, D., Jansen, M., & Granic, I. (2016). Does mother–child interaction mediate the relation between maternal depressive symptoms and children’s mental health problems? Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25, 1257–1268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0309-1
von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Egger, M., Pocock, S. J., Gøtzsche, P. C., & Vandenbroucke, J. P. (2008). The strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement: Guidelines for reporting observational studies. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 61(4), 344–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.11.008
Wei, C., Swan, A. J., Makover, H. B., & Kendall, F. C. (2017). A multi-informant examination of maternal symptoms and autonomy granting in youth anxiety. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 48(6), 1001–1009. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-017-0722-3
West, K. B., Oshri, A., Mitaro, E., Caughy, M., & Suveg, C. (2020). Maternal depression and preadolescent symptoms: An examination of dyad-level moderators in an economically impoverished sample. Journal of Family Psychology, 34(3), 333–341. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000610
Zalewski, M., Thompson, S. F., & Lengua, L. J. (2017). Parenting as a moderator of the effects of maternal depressive symptoms on preadolescent adjustment. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 46(4), 563–572. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2015.1030752
Funding
This work was supported by CNPq awarded to Sonia Regina Loureiro for the Productivity fellowship grant (307945/2018-9), and by CAPES awarded to Marianna Ramos e Oliveira for the Masters scholarship.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Consent to Participants
Not applicable.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Silva-Rodrigues, A.P.C., Oliveira, M.R.e., Silva, T.B.F. et al. Positive Parenting of Mothers with Depression and Children’s Behaviors: A Systematic Review. Trends in Psychol. 30, 400–423 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-021-00105-y
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-021-00105-y