Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the life stressors, mental health status, and parenting behaviors of Latino and White mothers in a national sample of low-income mothers. The study utilizes a sub sample the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project data to understand the similarities and differences of maternal depression, child characteristics, and parenting. The sub sample consists of the 874 mothers assessed for depression at baseline.

Methods: This paper will report findings from 641 White and 233 Latina mothers participating the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation project (EHSRE) funded by the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. Mothers and children were followed from enrollment until the child reached age 3. The data collected included standardized assessments, interviews, survey and video observation of mother child interaction. Data were collected at six points in time; enrollment, 6 and 15 months and when the child was 14, 24, and 36 months old.

Results: Approximately 23% of the mothers experienced depression at baseline. Depression increased at 14 months with 30% of the mothers experiencing depression. Maternal depression was significantly correlated with aggressive behaviors in children at 24 (r = .176, n=550, p < 0.01) and 36 months old (r = .184, n=515, p < 0.01). Maternal depression was significantly correlated with mother's education level (r = -.178, n=521, p < 0.01), family conflict (r = .351, n=596, p < 0.01), parental distress (r = .422, n=676, p < 0.01), and child's emotionality (r = .170, n=677, p < 0.01). Unlike previous research, depression scores were not associated with age of mother or self reported discipline severity. Multiple regression was used to predict maternal depression. Predictor variables were entered in conceptually distinct sets driven by the literature (maternal characteristics, child's health, child's behavior and family environment). The overall model explains 25% of the variance f(7, 452) = 21.47, p=.000. There were no significant differences between Latina and White mothers.

Implications: The results of this study indicate that depressed mothers experience environments that are more stressful then non-depressed mothers and that their children had higher number of fears, feelings of being unsafe and nervous (emotionality). Prior research in the area of maternal depression indicates that maternal depression is associated with poor parenting skill. Early intervention programs such as Early Head Start focus on parenting skill, child development knowledge and parent empowerment within the context of their child's education. These approaches may have limited affect on parenting behaviors without directly addressing the needs of mothers experiencing depression.