ERIC Number: EJ779320
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Dec
Pages: 16
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-2445
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Available Date: N/A
Parental Depression and Anxiety and Early Childhood Behavior Problems across Family Types
Meadows, Sarah O.; McLanahan, Sara S.; Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne
Journal of Marriage and Family, v69 n5 p1162-1177 Dec 2007
Using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we examine the association between parental major depressive and generalized anxiety disorders and child behavior problems across family types: married, cohabiting, involved nonresident father, and noninvolved nonresident father. Among 3-year-olds in all families, maternal anxiety/depression is associated with increased odds of anxious/depressed, attention deficit, and oppositional defiant disorders (N = 2,120). Paternal anxiety/depression has no significant association with these problem behaviors; father's illness, however, exacerbates anxious/depressed behaviors in young children if both parents are ill and he is coresident. The findings underscore the importance of maternal mental health for child well-being and suggest that a negative interaction between parent illnesses is most likely when parents and children share the same disorder.
Descriptors: Behavior Problems, Young Children, Child Behavior, Depression (Psychology), Fathers, Anxiety, Parent Influence, Family Structure, Well Being, Correlation, Attention Deficit Disorders, Hyperactivity, Psychological Patterns, Physical Health, Diseases, Mental Health
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
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