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Developmental Science May 2020Language abilities in early childhood show stability over time and play an important role in the development of other cognitive processes. Identifying modifiable...
Language abilities in early childhood show stability over time and play an important role in the development of other cognitive processes. Identifying modifiable environmental risk factors is important to informing prevention and early intervention efforts. Maternal verbal ability has been previously linked to child verbal ability. The current study examined whether maternal and child verbal abilities were linked indirectly through early childhood maternal responsiveness. Data come from a longitudinal birth cohort study. Participants included 133 mothers and their children recruited from maternity wards shortly after birth. Maternal verbal ability was measured using the Vocabulary subtest from the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Second Edition (child age 8 months). Child verbal ability was assessed using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (36 months). A latent maternal responsiveness variable was estimated using three developmentally sensitive indicators; one during infancy (child age 8 months) and two when children were 36 months. Results of a structural equation model indicated a significant indirect effect from maternal verbal abilities to child verbal abilities through maternal responsiveness. This indirect path was significant even after inclusion of another indirect path from maternal executive functioning to child verbal ability through maternal responsiveness (which was not significant). Future studies will benefit from experimental, genetically sensitive and/or cross-lagged designs to allow for conclusions related to directionality and causality. This body of research has implications for the study of the intergenerational transmission of verbal abilities and associated skills, behaviours and adaptive outcomes.
Topics: Adult; Aptitude; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Executive Function; Female; Humans; Infant; Intelligence; Language Tests; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mothers; Vocabulary; Wechsler Scales
PubMed: 31571333
DOI: 10.1111/desc.12907 -
Journal of Pediatric Psychology Nov 2018This study aimed to characterize mothers' communication with their children in a sample of families with a new or newly relapsed pediatric cancer diagnosis, first using...
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to characterize mothers' communication with their children in a sample of families with a new or newly relapsed pediatric cancer diagnosis, first using factor analysis and second using structural equation modeling to examine relations between self-reported maternal distress (anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress) and maternal communication in prospective analyses. A hierarchical model of communication was proposed, based on a theoretical framework of warmth and control.
METHODS
The sample included 115 children (age 5-17 years) with new or newly relapsed cancer (41% leukemia, 18% lymphoma, 6% brain tumor, and 35% other) and their mothers. Mothers reported distress (Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Impact of Events Scale-Revised) 2 months after diagnosis (Time 1). Three months later (Time 2), mother-child dyads were video-recorded discussing cancer. Maternal communication was coded with the Iowa Family Interaction Ratings Scales.
RESULTS
Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated poor fit. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a six-factor model (root mean square error of approximation = .04) with one factor reflecting Positive Communication, four factors reflecting Negative Communication (Hostile/Intrusive, Lecturing, Withdrawn, and Inconsistent), and one factor reflecting Expression of Negative Affect. Maternal distress symptoms at Time 1 were all significantly, negatively related to Positive Communication and differentially related to Negative Communication factors at Time 2. Maternal posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms each predicted Expression of Negative Affect.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings provide a nuanced understanding of maternal communication in pediatric cancer and identify prospective pathways of risk between maternal distress and communication that can be targeted in intervention.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety Disorders; Child; Child, Preschool; Communication; Depressive Disorder; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Midwestern United States; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
PubMed: 30016505
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsy054 -
Sleep Health Apr 2017
Topics: Famous Persons; Female; Humans; Maternal Behavior; Mothers; Paintings; Sleep
PubMed: 28346160
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2016.12.005 -
Archives of Women's Mental Health Dec 2022Maternal depression negatively impacts child mental health and is a well-known risk factor for child psychopathology. However, maternal depression treatment and child... (Review)
Review
Maternal depression negatively impacts child mental health and is a well-known risk factor for child psychopathology. However, maternal depression treatment and child mental health treatment are rarely integrated. The purpose of this review was to assess the impact of maternal depression on child mental health treatment, including (1) how treatment of maternal depression affects child mental health outcomes, (2) the impact of maternal depression on children receiving mental health care, and (3) emerging models that address maternal depression in primary-care pediatrics and child mental health settings. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed and PsycInfo. Initial search yielded 224 records, and after exclusion, 29 papers were reviewed. Effective treatment of maternal depression is associated with a significant decrease in child psychiatric symptoms. Maternal depression negatively affects child mental health treatment in that there is a high rate of untreated mental illness among mothers of psychiatrically ill children, and maternal depression impedes effective child mental health treatment. Current models to address maternal depression in child settings include screening in pediatric primary care, psychotherapy for depressed mothers of psychiatrically ill children, and emerging models that integrate maternal and child mental health treatment. Effective treatment of maternal depression significantly improves child mental health and should be better integrated into child treatment. Opportunities to improve care include more robust screening for parental mental illness, supports to refer parents to psychiatric care, and on-site services for parents. Such interventions hold promise, but require significant support from a multidisciplinary team.
Topics: Female; Child; Humans; Mental Health; Psychotherapy; Mothers; Child of Impaired Parents; Mental Disorders
PubMed: 36327004
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-022-01272-2 -
MCN. the American Journal of Maternal...Maternal self-confidence facilitates infant growth and new mother role development. Infant ability to breastfeed and maternal breastfeeding self-confidence are...
PURPOSE
Maternal self-confidence facilitates infant growth and new mother role development. Infant ability to breastfeed and maternal breastfeeding self-confidence are imperative to helping mothers meet their breastfeeding goals. Consistent opportunity for infant movement in the prone position has been shown to improve breastfeeding ability; however, families report a lack of knowledge of how to safely support this activity. Perceptions of maternal self-confidence, infant development, and breastfeeding success upon completion of an infant prone positioning program with focus on posture, movement, and connection were studied.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
Qualitative interviews were conducted among breastfeeding mothers in three states to explore maternal perceptions of learning about infant prone positioning.
RESULTS
Thirty-five mothers who completed an infant prone positioning program shared their perceptions of infant interaction, prone play and positioning, and breastfeeding self-confidence. Four primary themes were identified from the analysis: maternal knowledge and self-confidence; strategies and practices learned; breastfeeding benefits of infant prone positioning; and motivation for program participation.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
Our findings support consideration of teaching new mothers about prone positioning to enhance self-confidence in mothering, breastfeeding skills, infant development, and maternal-infant dyad bonding.
Topics: Adult; Breast Feeding; Child; Child Development; Educational Measurement; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Infant; Male; Maternal Behavior; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Program Evaluation; Prone Position; Self Concept
PubMed: 34166238
DOI: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000000731 -
Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral... Feb 2023Racial disparities in maternal health are alarming and persistent. Use of electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) to understand the maternal... (Review)
Review
Racial disparities in maternal health are alarming and persistent. Use of electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) to understand the maternal brain can improve our knowledge of maternal health by providing insight into mechanisms underlying maternal well-being, including implications for child development. However, systematic racial bias exists in EEG methodology-particularly for Black individuals-and in psychological and health research broadly. This paper discusses these biases in the context of EEG/ERP research on the maternal brain. First, we assess the racial/ethnic diversity of existing ERP studies of maternal neural responding to infant/child emotional expressions, using papers from a recent meta-analysis, finding that the majority of mothers represented in this research are of White/European ancestry and that the racially and ethnically diverse samples that are present are limited in terms of geography. Therefore, our current knowledge base in this area may be biased and not generalizable across racially diverse mothers. We outline factors underlying this problem, beginning with the racial bias in EEG equipment that systematically excludes individuals of African descent, and also considering factors specific to research with mothers. Finally, we highlight recent innovations to EEG hardware to better accommodate diverse hairstyles and textures, and other important steps to increase racial and ethnic representativeness in EEG/ERP research with mothers. We urge EEG/ERP researchers who study the maternal brain-including our own research group-to take action to increase racial diversity so that this research area can confidently inform understanding of maternal health and contribute to minimizing maternal health disparities.
Topics: Female; Infant; Child; Humans; Racial Groups; Mothers; Electroencephalography; Brain
PubMed: 36414837
DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01040-w -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Jul 2019Improved understanding of vegetable intake changes between pregnancy and postpartum may inform future intervention targets to establish healthy home food environments....
BACKGROUND
Improved understanding of vegetable intake changes between pregnancy and postpartum may inform future intervention targets to establish healthy home food environments. Therefore, the goal of this study was to explore the changes in vegetable intake between pregnancy and the postnatal period and explore maternal and sociodemographic factors that are associated with these changes.
METHODS
We examined sociodemographic, dietary, and health characteristics of healthy mothers 18-43y from the prospective Infant Feeding Practices II cohort (n = 847) (2005-2012). Mothers completed a modified version of the diet history questionnaire, a food-frequency measure, developed by the National Cancer Institute. We created four categories of mothers, those that were: meeting vegetable recommendations post- but not prenatally (n = 121; improved intake), not meeting vegetable recommendations during pregnancy and postnatally (n = 370; stable inadequate), meeting recommendations pre- but not postnatally (n = 123; reduced intake), and meeting recommendations at both time points (n = 233; stable adequate). To make our results more relevant to public health recommendations, we were interested in comparing the improved vegetable intake group vs. stable inadequate vegetable intake group, as well as those that reduced their vegetable intake compared to the stable adequate vegetable intake group. Separate multivariable-adjusted logistic regression were used to examine sociodemographic predictors of improved vs. stable inadequate and reduced vs. stable adequate vegetable intake.
RESULTS
Women with improved vegetable intake vs. stable inadequate smoked fewer cigarettes while women with reduced vegetable intake vs. stable adequate were more likely to experience less pregnancy weight gain. In adjusted models, employed women had greater odds of reduced vegetable intake (OR = 1.64 95% CI 1.14-2.36). In exploratory analyses, employment was associated with greater odds of reduced vegetable intake among low-income (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.03-3.1), but not higher income women (OR = 1.31; 95% CI 0.94-1.84). After further adjustment for paid maternity leave, employment was no longer associated with vegetable intake among lower income women (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 0.76-3.05).
CONCLUSIONS
More women with reduced vs. stable adequate vegetable intake were lower income and worked full time. Improved access to paid maternity leave may help reduce disparities in vegetable quality between lower and higher income women.
Topics: Adult; Diet; Feeding Behavior; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Maternal Health; Mothers; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Vegetables; Young Adult
PubMed: 31349808
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2353-0 -
Sleep Medicine Clinics Dec 2023This literature review seeks to understand how motherhood and profession affect women's sleep. After the birth of a child, there is an increase in dissatisfaction with... (Review)
Review
This literature review seeks to understand how motherhood and profession affect women's sleep. After the birth of a child, there is an increase in dissatisfaction with the quantity and quality of sleep. Awakenings and sleep disturbances are more frequent and can lead to increased fatigue and stress to reconcile household activities and work demands. These changes in sleep can lead to physical and/or psychological health problems. Sleep hygiene and social support become fundamental for the performance of the maternal tasks, reducing risks and increasing prevention of future problems, both for women and children.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Sleep; Mothers; Sleep Hygiene; Social Support
PubMed: 38501520
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.06.009 -
PeerJ 2022Low maternal self-efficacy and high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress can be triggered in adolescent mothers due to an incomplete development process that makes...
BACKGROUND
Low maternal self-efficacy and high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress can be triggered in adolescent mothers due to an incomplete development process that makes them physically or psychologically unprepared for the responsibilities of motherhood and parenting. These factors may be linked to difficulties with their children's social-emotional development. The present study aims to: (a) analyze the relationship between maternal self-efficacy and stress, depression, and anxiety levels in low-income adolescent mothers; (b) examine the relationship between maternal self-efficacy and well-being with children's social-emotional development; and (c) describe the effects of maternal self-efficacy on children's social-emotional development, mediated by maternal well-being.
METHODS
A sample of 79 dyads comprising low-income Chilean adolescent mothers aged from 15 to 21 years old (M = 19.1, SD = 1.66) and their children aged 10 to 24 months (M = 15.5, SD = 4.2) participated in this research. A set of psychometric scales was used to measure maternal self-efficacy (Parental Evaluation Scale, EEP), the mothers' anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), maternal stress (Parental Stress Scale, PSS), and the children's social-emotional development (Ages and Stages Questionnaire Socio-emotional, ASQ-SE). Bivariate analyses and mediation models were employed to estimate and test the relevant relationships.
RESULTS
A bivariate analysis showed that maternal self-efficacy was negatively related to the mother's anxiety, depression, and stress. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between maternal self-efficacy and maternal stress, and children's self-regulation and social-emotional development. Maternal self-efficacy, mediated by maternal anxiety, depression, and stress scores, had a significant effect on the development of children's self-regulation.
CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm the importance of adolescent mothers' emotional well-being and maternal self- efficacy with respect to their children's social-emotional development. This makes it necessary to have detailed information about how emotional and self-perception status influences a mother's role in the development of her children.
Topics: Humans; Child; Female; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Infant; Child, Preschool; Mothers; Adolescent Mothers; Mother-Child Relations; Self Efficacy; Chile
PubMed: 35433128
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13162 -
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge... Oct 2021Maternal effects, or the influence of maternal environment and phenotype on offspring phenotype, may allow mothers to fine-tune their offspring's developmental... (Review)
Review
Maternal effects, or the influence of maternal environment and phenotype on offspring phenotype, may allow mothers to fine-tune their offspring's developmental trajectory and resulting phenotype sometimes long after the offspring has reached independence. However, maternal effects on offspring phenotype do not evolve in isolation, but rather within the context of a family unit, where the separate and often conflicting evolutionary interests of mothers, fathers and offspring are all at play. While intrafamilial conflicts are routinely invoked to explain other components of reproductive strategy, remarkably little is known about how intrafamilial conflicts influence maternal effects. We argue that much of the considerable variation in the relationship between maternally derived hormones, nutrients and other compounds and the resulting offspring phenotype might be explained by the presence of conflicting selection pressures on different family members. In this review, we examine the existing literature on maternal hormone allocation as a case study for maternal effects more broadly, and explore new hypotheses that arise when we consider current findings within a framework that explicitly incorporates the different evolutionary interests of the mother, her offspring and other family members. Specifically, we hypothesise that the relationship between maternal hormone allocation and offspring phenotype depends on a mother's ability to manipulate the signals she sends to offspring, the ability of family members to be plastic in their response to those signals and the capacity for the phenotypes and strategies of various family members to interact and influence one another on both behavioural and evolutionary timescales. We also provide suggestions for experimental, comparative and theoretical work that may be instrumental in testing these hypotheses. In particular, we highlight that manipulating the level of information available to different family members may reveal important insights into when and to what extent maternal hormones influence offspring development. We conclude that the evolution of maternal hormone allocation is likely to be shaped by the conflicting fitness optima of mothers, fathers and offspring, and that the outcome of this conflict depends on the relative balance of power between family members. Extending our hypotheses to incorporate interactions between family members, as well as more complex social groups and a wider range of taxa, may provide exciting new developments in the fields of endocrinology and maternal effects.
Topics: Female; Hormones; Humans; Mothers; Phenotype; Reproduction
PubMed: 33988906
DOI: 10.1111/brv.12733