307P
Does the Relationship Matter?: Maternal Depression, Child Neglect, and Mother-Child Closeness
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between maternal depression, mother-child closeness, and child neglect. We utilized Belsky’s (1984) process model of parenting to provide a framework for understanding maternal depression and parenting behaviors. Previous literature suggests that maternal depression is linked to an increased risk of child neglect. However, the link between maternal depression and mother-child closeness is hazy at best. It was hypothesized that depressed mothers who were able to have a closer relationship with their child were less likely to neglect their child.
Methods:
This study used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing (FFCWS) study. This study used data from mothers and children who participated in the ninth year (fifth wave) of FFCWS. Mothers who served as the primary caregiver of their child (n=3,112) were asked questions regarding depression, child neglect, and mother-child relationship closeness, as well as demographic questions including age, education, income, and race. We chose to only include mothers who functioned as the primary caregiver of their child because the questions regarding neglect were only asked of the primary caregiver. The first set of analyses involved descriptive statistics in order to better understand the differences between mothers with depression and mothers without depression. The second set of analyses included logistic regression to examine the relationship between maternal depression and neglect. Three models were run in order to understand the relationship between maternal depression, child neglect, and mother-child closeness.
Results:
A logistic regression was performed which reaffirmed the positive relationship between maternal depression and child neglect. We found that maternal depression remained a significant predictor of child neglect across all three models in this study. According to the binary mediation regression performed in Model 3, mother-child closeness was not a mediating variable for maternal depression and child neglect. However, it did remain a significant predictor of child neglect. This suggests that the mother’s perception of closeness in the relationship with her child is a protective factor of child neglect. When examining race, American Indians (when compared to white, depressed mothers) had a significant increase in the odds of child neglect happening.
Implications:
It is important that social work practitioners understand surrounding depression, closeness and child neglect. While this study did not find that mother-child closeness was a mediating variable of maternal depression and child neglect, it was a significant predictor of child neglect. Further, when compared to white mothers with depression, American Indian mothers with depression had 101.7% increased odds of child neglect. Other races were not significant in predicting child neglect. As such, more research needs to be done on the risk and protective factors American Indians face regarding the relationship of maternal depression and child neglect. Other factors that may be affecting American Indian mothers with depression may include family structure or substance use and abuse. Clinicians working with American Indian families should utilize evidence-based and culturally appropriate treatment and intervention strategies to minimize depression and child neglect risks.