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The Relations among Maternal Depressive Disorder, Maternal Expressed Emotion, and Toddler Behavior Problems and Attachment

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Abstract

Direct and indirect relations among maternal depression, maternal Expressed Emotion (EE: Self- and Child-Criticism), child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and child attachment were examined. Participants were mothers with depression (n = 130) and comparison mothers (n = 68) and their toddlers (M age = 20 mo.; 53% male). Assessments included the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (maternal depression); the Five Minute Speech Sample (EE); the Child Behavior Checklist (toddler behavior problems); the Strange Situation (child attachment). Direct relations were significant linking: 1) maternal depression with both EE and child functioning; 2) Child-Criticism with child internalizing and externalizing symptoms; 3) Self-Criticism with child attachment. Significant indirect relations were found linking maternal depression with: 1) child externalizing behaviors via Child-Criticism; 2) child internalizing behaviors via Self- and Child-Criticism; and 3) child attachment via Self-Criticism. Findings are consistent with a conceptual model in which maternal EE mediates relations between maternal depression and toddler socio-emotional functioning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Julie A. Gravener, Fred A. Rogosch, Assaf Oshri, Dante Cicchetti & Sheree L. Toth

  2. Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Angela J. Narayan

  3. Institute of Child Development and Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Dante Cicchetti

  4. Mt. Hope Family Center, 187 Edinburgh St., Rochester, NY, 14608, USA

    Julie A. Gravener

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  1. Julie A. Gravener
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  2. Fred A. Rogosch
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  6. Sheree L. Toth
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Correspondence to Julie A. Gravener.

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Gravener, J.A., Rogosch, F.A., Oshri, A. et al. The Relations among Maternal Depressive Disorder, Maternal Expressed Emotion, and Toddler Behavior Problems and Attachment. J Abnorm Child Psychol 40, 803–813 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9598-z

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