Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Is Maternal Fatigue Mediating the Relationship Between Maternal Depression and Child Outcomes?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fatigue, a subjective state that has been defined as a decreased capacity for physical or mental activity, has many behavioral similarities to depression (e.g., weariness, difficulty concentrating, diminished motivation). We hypothesized that fatigue might mediate the relationship between depression and poor child outcomes. A sample of mothers (14 well women, 57 with multiple sclerosis, and 36 with rheumatoid arthritis) completed an online survey where they reported on their fatigue (using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), depression (using the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale), child internalizing and externalizing behaviors (using the Child Behavior Checklist), and child prosocial behaviors (using a 10-item abbreviated Positive Behavior Scale). Maternal fatigue mediated the relationship between maternal depression and the total problems T-score on the Child Behavior Checklist but a mediated relationship was not found for the Positive Behavior Scale. Findings are discussed in light of the need to elucidate the relationship between maternal fatigue, depression, and child outcomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aaronson, L. S., Teel, C. S., Cassmeyer, V., Neuberger, G. B., Pallikkathayil, L., Pierce, J., et al. (1999). Defining and measuring fatigue. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31, 45–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abidin, R. R. (1995). Parenting stress index: Professional manual (3rd ed.). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, D.C: Author.

  • Bagner, D. M., Pettit, J. W., Lewinsohn, P. M., & Seeley, J. R. (2010). Effect of maternal depression on child behavior: A sensitive period? Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49, 699–707.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bakshi, R. (2003). Fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis: Diagnosis, impact and management. Multiple Sclerosis, 9, 219–227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R., & Kenny, D. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, B. G., & Belsky, J. (2008). Parents, parenting, and children’s sleep problems: Exploring reciprocal effects. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 26, 579–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benoit, D., Aeanah, C. H., Boucher, C., & Minde, K. K. (1992). Sleep disorders in early childhood: Associations with insecure maternal attachment. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 86–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corwin, E. J., & Arbour, M. (2007). Postpartum fatigue and evidence-based interventions. MCN, The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 32, 215–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cottrell, L., & Khan, A. (2005). Impact of childhood epilepsy on maternal sleep and socioemotional functioning. Clinical Pediatrics, 44, 613–616.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crnic, K., & Booth, C. (1991). Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of daily hassles of parenting across early childhood. Journal of Marriage & the Family, 53, 1042–1050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deatrick, J. A., Brennan, D., & Cameron, M. E. (1998). Mothers with multiple sclerosis and their children: Effects of fatigue and exacerbations on maternal support. Nursing Research, 47, 205–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dix, T., Gershoff, E. T., Meunier, L. N., & Miller, P. C. (2004). The affective structure of supportive parenting: Depressive symptoms, immediate emotions, and child-oriented motivation. Developmental Psychology, 40, 1212–1227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dorheim, S. K., Bondevik, G. T., & Bjorvatn, B. (2009). Sleep and depression in postpartum women: A population-based study. Sleep, 32, 847–855.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elgar, F. J., Mills, R. S. L., McGrath, P. J., Waschbusch, D. A., & Brownridge, D. A. (2007). Maternal and paternal depressive symptoms and child maladjustment: The mediating role of parental behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 35, 943–955.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epps, S. R., Park, S. E., Huston, A. C., & Ripke, M. (2005). A scale of positive social behaviors. In K. A. Moore & L. H. Lippman (Eds.), What do children need to flourish? Conceptualizing and measuring indicators of positive development (pp. 163–179). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Field, T. (1992). Infants of depressed mothers. Development and Psychopathology, 4, 49–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field, T., Diego, M., & Sanders, C. (2001). Adolescent depression and risk factors. Adolescence, 36, 491–498.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisk, J. D., Ritvo, P. G., Ross, L., Hasse, D. A., Marrie, T. J., & Schlech, W. F. (1994). Measuring the functional impact of fatigue: Initial validation of the fatigue impact scale. Clinical Infectious Disease, 18(Suppl. 1), 79–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster, C., Webster, M., Weissman, M., Pilowsky, D., Wickramaratne, P., Rush, A., et al. (2008). Course and severity of maternal depression: Associations with family functioning and child adjustment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37, 906–916.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gay, C. L., Lee, K. A., & Lee, S. (2004). Sleep patterns and fatigue in new mothers and fathers. Biological Research for Nursing, 5, 311–318.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goodlin-Jones, B., Tang, K., Liu, J., & Anders, T. F. (2009). Sleep problems, sleepiness and daytime behavior in preschool-age children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50, 1532–1540.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, S. H., & Gotlib, I. H. (1999). Risk for psychopathology in the children of depressed mothers: A developmental model for understanding mechanisms of transmission. Psychological Review, 106, 458–490.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, L., Rayens, M., & Peden, A. (2008). Maternal factors associated with child behavior. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 40, 124–130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hannan, M. T. (1996). Epidemiologic perspectives on women and arthritis: An overview. Arthristis and Rheumatism, 9, 424–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helseth, S., & Ulfsaet, N. (2005). Parenting experiences during cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52, 38–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S. L. (2008). The concept of fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 40, 72–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. Y., Lee, K. A., Rankin, S. H., Weiss, S. J., & Alkon, A. (2007). Sleep disturbance, fatigue, and stress among Chinese–American parents with ICU hospitalized infants. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 28, 593–605.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lovejoy, M. C., Graczyk, P. A., O’Hare, E., & Neuman, G. (2000). Maternal depression and parenting behavior: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 20, 561–592.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S. E., Clements, M. L., & Crnic, K. A. (2002). Maternal emotions during mother-toddler interaction: Parenting in affective context. Parenting: Science and Practice, 2, 105–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meltzer, L. J., & Mindell, J. A. (2007). Relationships between child sleep disturbances and maternal sleep, mood, and parenting stress: A pilot study. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 67–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, R. J., & Young, C. A. (2008). A medical definition of fatigue in multiple sclerosis. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 101, 49–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mindell, J. A., Meltzer, L. J., Carskadon, M. A., & Chervin, R. D. (2009a). Developmental aspects of sleep hygiene: Findings from the 2004 National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America Poll. Sleep Medicine, 10, 771–779.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mindell, J. A., Telofski, L. S., Wiegand, B., & Kurtz, E. B. (2009b). A nightly bedtime routine: Impact on sleep in young children and maternal mood. Sleep: Journal of Sleep and Sleep Disorders Research, 32, 599–606.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myhr, K. M. (2008). Diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 117(Suppl. 188), 12–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Sleep Foundation. (n.d.). How much sleep do we really need? Retrieved from http://www.sleepfoundation.org.

  • Parrish, B. P., Zautra, A. J., & Davis, M. C. (2008). The role of positive and negative interpersonal events on daily fatigue in women with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Health Psychology, 27, 694–702.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Posmontier, B. (2008). Sleep quality in women with and without postpartum depression. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 37, 722–735.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Repping-Wuts, H., Fransen, J., van Achterberg, T., Bleijenberg, G., & van Riel, P. (2007). Persistent severe fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16, 377–383.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Repping-Wuts, H., Hewlett, S., van Riel, P., & van Achterberg, T. (2009). Fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: British and Dutch nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and management. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65, 901–911.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Repping-Wuts, H., van Riel, P., & van Achterberg, T. (2008). Rheumatologists’ knowledge, attitude and current management of fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Clinical Rheumatology, 27, 1549–1555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblum, O., Mazet, P., & Bénony, H. (1997). Mother and infant affective involvement states and maternal depression. Infant Mental Health Journal, 18, 350–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runquist, J. J. (2007). A depressive symptoms responsiveness model for differentiating fatigue from depression in the postpartum period. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 10, 267–275.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeh, A., Lavie, P., & Scher, A. (1994). Sleep and temperament: Maternal perceptions of temperament of sleep-disturbed toddlers. Early Education and Development, 5, 311–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shafer, A. (2006). Meta-analysis of the factor structures of four depression questionnaires: Beck, CES-D, Hamilton, and Zung. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 123–146.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, A. (2009). Fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 20, 363–372.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sobel, M. E. (1982). Asymptotic intervals for indirect effects in structural equations models. In S. Leinhart (Ed.), Sociological methodology (pp. 290–312). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sohr-Preston, S., & Scaramella, L. (2006). Implications of timing of maternal depressive symptoms for early cognitive and language development. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 9, 65–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed.). New York: Harper Collins College Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Theorell-Haglow, J., Lindberg, E., & Janson, C. (2006). What are the important risk factors for daytime sleepiness and fatigue in women? Sleep, 29, 751–757.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thorne, S. E. (1990). Mothers with chronic illness: A predicament of social construction. Health Care for Women International, 11, 209–221.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trapolini, T., McMahon, C., & Ungerer, J. (2007). The effect of maternal depression and marital adjustment on young children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems. Child: Care, Health and Development, 33, 794–803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troy, N. W. (1999). A comparison of fatigue and energy levels at 6 weeks and 14 to 19 months postpartum. Clinical Nursing Research, 8, 135–152.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ware, J. E., Jr, & Sherbourne, C. D. (1992). The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36): I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Medical Care, 30, 473–483.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weinfield, N., Ingerski, L., & Moreau, S. (2009). Maternal and paternal depressive symptoms as predictors of toddler adjustment. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 39–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, C. P., White, M. B., & Fox, M. A. (2009). Maternal fatigue and its relationship to the caregiving environment. Families, Systems, & Health, 27, 325–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child Development and Family Relations, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA

    Carmel Parker White

  2. Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, USA

    Kathleen King

Authors
  1. Carmel Parker White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathleen King
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmel Parker White.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

White, C.P., King, K. Is Maternal Fatigue Mediating the Relationship Between Maternal Depression and Child Outcomes?. J Child Fam Stud 20, 844–853 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-011-9452-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-011-9452-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation