Session: Interventions for Maternal Depression and Infant/Toddler Wellbeing: Building on Strengths in Vulnerable Families (Research that Promotes Sustainability and (re)Builds Strengths (January 15 - 18, 2009))

Evidence shows that depression in mothers of infants and toddlers is a serious public heath problem for women, children, and families. Depression is experienced by approximately 12-25% of childbearing women with higher estimates for at-risk groups such as low-income, minority adolescents (44%) and low-income, new destination Latinas with low-English proficiency (64%). Maternal depression has harmful, lasting effects on young children's well-being, on the mothers' and fathers' subsequent mental health, and on the couple's relationship. Exposure to maternal depressive symptoms is linked to children's maltreatment, language deficits, behavioral dysregulation, developmental lags, poor health and healthcare, conduct disorder, and social aggression.

Initial efforts to improve outcomes for mothers and children primarily targeted treatment of depressive symptoms. However, emerging evidence suggests that treatment of maternal depressive symptoms alone is not sufficient to protect infant/toddlers from negative outcomes. These findings support development of interventions with increased focus on the mother-infant relationship (Forman et al 2007). Further, many early intervention trials have been characterized by high drop out rates. Offering home-based intervention may improve retention. However, randomized controlled trials of home-visiting interventions for depression have been done only in the postnatal period, in Europe, and only one included low-income mothers. Designing effective social work interventions tailored to the needs of families at-risk associated with maternal depression is critical. In order to design successful interventions for the prevention and treatment of maternal depression and the improvement of infant/toddler outcomes, it is imperative that researchers and practitioners identify not only the ecological risk factors that render women and children vulnerable to the negative outcomes associated with maternal depression, but also effective intervention strategies that confer protection against negative infant/toddler outcomes. Social work researchers are in a unique position to expand core translational research knowledge on sustainable interventions for maternal depression through our focus on developing capacity in individuals and families.

This symposium will bring together current social work and allied professional research from across the United States in the area of maternal depression and infant/toddler wellbeing, including the identification of ecological risk and protective factors to strengthen young families. The research includes the results of three studies using home-visiting to target depression in mothers of young infants/toddlers: a randomized controlled trial of an interpreter model of an interpersonally-based intervention for low-income, LEP, Latina mothers; an evaluation of a community based program providing a relationship-based intervention for mothers with serious postpartum mood disturbance and their infants; and a randomized controlled trial of a doula intervention for low-income, African-American, adolescent mothers. An additional presentation includes evidence on advances in the understanding of infant maltreatment targeting of early intervention. In order to effectively treat maternal depression, prevent maltreatment, and improve infant/toddler development, it is imperative that social workers are provided with evidence regarding associated ecological risk and protective factors and sustainable interventions for maternal depression on which to base best practice decisions. Well informed, feasible interventions that reduce maternal depression and promote infant/toddler wellbeing may offer protective advantages against ecological risk and prevent future developmental problems for women and children.