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Group-based care decreased children’s emotional problems

Regulated early child care services reduced the risk for emotional problems in children of mothers with maternal depressive symptoms, according to recent study findings published in JAMA Psychiatry.

“Children of depressed mothers are at increased risk for a range of persistent mental and physical health problems, including internalizing problems (ie, symptoms of depression and anxiety) during childhood and affective disorders in adolescence,” researchers wrote. “It is important that we gain a better understanding of how maternal depressive symptoms are associated with child outcome over time and of the steps that can be taken to minimize long-term consequences.”

The population-based prospective cohort study included 1,759 children aged 5 months to 5 years, who were assessed repeatedly.

Researchers found decreased odds of emotional problems (OR=0.24; 95% CI, 0.09-0.66) and social withdrawal symptoms (OR=0.29; 95% CI, 0.09-0.92) for children of mothers with maternal depressive symptoms entering child care early. There also was a decreased risk for children entering care late (emotional problems, OR=0.29; 95% CI, 0.11-0.77 and social withdrawal symptoms, OR=0.21; 95% CI, 0.07-0.65). Children in group-based care also had a decreased risk for emotional problems compared with those who remained in maternal care (OR=0.21; 95% CI, 0.09-0.48) or those cared for by a relative or babysitter (OR=0.40; 95% CI, 0.17-0.94).

“Regulated child care services may represent an intervention that buffers the negative effect of [maternal depressive symptoms] on children’s [emotional problems] and [social withdrawal symptoms],” researchers wrote. “Our results are consistent with previous studies showing beneficial effects of child care for children living in adverse family environments (eg, low parental education or poverty). Access to regulated and structured child care services should be facilitated not only for children exposed to poverty but also for children of depressed mothers.”

Disclosure: See the study for a full list of disclosures.