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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

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Abstract

Recent studies have shown that the association between maternal depression and child outcome can be moderated by children's experience of childcare (e.g., daycare) during early childhood (0–5 years). We also know that maternal depression in the child's early years has long-term associations with child development. However, the moderating role of childcare quality on long-term associations between maternal depression and child outcome has not been thoroughly investigated. This article examined longitudinal associations between probable maternal depression (PMD) during early childhood (0–5 years) and childcare quality on children’s emotional and behavioral development at the age of 7–8 years (N = 207). Childcare quality was evaluated through observations within the settings. PMD during early childhood was assessed using complementary information from interviews conducted with the mother and current maternal symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Internalizing and externalizing behaviors were reported by the mother, father and the child at age 7–8 years. Results indicate that when mothers reported clinically relevant depression in early childhood, 7-8-year-old children demonstrate fewer behavioral problems if they attended a higher quality childcare setting. The moderating role of childcare quality remained after considering current maternal depression symptoms. Therefore, it is important to ensure high-quality childcare during early childhood to optimize child development.

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Acknowledgements

CH holds a salary award from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec Santé (FRQS). This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (MOP-79420, IHD-107532, and POH-120254). We thank participating families and childcare facilities for their contribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Justine Charrois, Christa Japel & Catherine M. Herba

  2. Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada

    Justine Charrois, Sylvana M. Côté, Jean R. Séguin, Frank Vitaro, Richard E. Tremblay & Catherine M. Herba

  3. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Sylvana M. Côté

  4. Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1219, Centre Hospitalier Perrens, Bordeaux, France

    Sylvana M. Côté

  5. Department of Sociology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Stéphane Paquin

  6. Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Jean R. Séguin & Catherine M. Herba

  7. Department of Education and specialized training, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Christa Japel

  8. Department of Psycho-education, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Frank Vitaro

  9. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA

    Julia Kim-Cohen

  10. Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Richard E. Tremblay

  11. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Richard E. Tremblay

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  1. Justine Charrois
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  2. Sylvana M. Côté
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  9. Catherine M. Herba
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Charrois, J., Côté, S.M., Paquin, S. et al. 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. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 29, 637–648 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-019-01385-7

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