Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study of 205 low-income single mothers with at least one child between 2 and 6, were from the baseline assessment of a longitudinal randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention in improving mothers' mental health.

Outcomes included: Parental bonding, the mother’s assessment of child behavior, self-esteem, chronic stressors, and depressive symptoms. The child behavior subscales were standardized by age and gender prior to analysis. Multiple regression models were developed using a backward selection procedure, one for each measure of child behavior. Maternal sociodemographic characteristics were included as controls, and potential predictors included maternal bonding, self-esteem, chronic stressors and depressive symptoms.

Findings: Chronic stressors (standardized beta = .25) and depressive symptoms (standardized beta = .34) predicted internalizing behavior. These predictors, plus control variables, explained 27% of the variability in internalizing behavior, F(7,182) = 9.8 and p < .0001. Chronic stressors (standardized beta = .22), depressive symptoms (standardized beta = .23), and maternal care (standardized beta = -.15) predicted externalizing behavior. With the controls, these variables accounted for 23% of the variability in externalizing behavior, F(8,181) = 6.6 and p < .0001.

Conclusions: Higher levels of maternal chronic stressors and depressive symptoms predicted greater internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Mothers whose relationship with their own mother during childhood was more caring perceived a lower degree of externalizing behavior problems.

Implications: Interventions aimed at decreasing depressive symptoms and chronic stressors may improve the relationship between mothers and their young children. This may foster a more caring bond between the mother and child, which may impact the future parenting skills of the child.

Funded: Grant #R01 NR0506-01, NINR/NIH, 4/01/00-3/30/04.

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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004