(PS10-C52) Assessing the Transactional Relationship Between Parental Depression and Children’s Cognition in Early Childhood

Parental mental health has significant implications on child development. Previous literature has largely focused on the unidirectional relationship between maternal depression and child mental health and cognition, largely due to the tendency for mothers to be primary caregivers. Results from these studies indicate that maternal mental health, in particular anxiety and depression, has significant implications on child mental health (Asselmann et al., 2014).  However, only a paucity of research has examined the transactional relationship between parental depression and child cognition. The current study aims to evaluate the pathways from maternal and paternal depression to subsequent children’s cognition, and child cognition to subsequent maternal and paternal depression from when children are 14 months, and at ages 2 and 3.

Participants were 2950 children and their parents recruited from the community. Maternal and paternal depression were measured utilizing the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977). Maternal depression was measured at 14 months and age 3 while paternal depression was measured at ages 2 and 3. Child cognition was measured utilizing the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Bayley, 2005) at 14 months and ages 2 and 3. Analyses were conducted utilizing a cross-lagged panel model and the results demonstrated that maternal depression at 14 months significantly predicts child cognition at age 2 (β = .08, p < .001), which subsequently significantly predicts maternal depression at age 3 (β = .17, p < .001). In addition, a child's cognition at 14 months significantly predicts paternal depression at age 2 (β = .12, p < .001), which subsequently significantly predicts children's cognition at age 3 (β = .09, p < .001). In both of these paths, maternal or paternal depression demonstrates a strong association with early childhood cognition both as a predictor and an outcome. The current study begins to address the gap in the literature and highlights the importance of longitudinal transactional pathways in the understanding of parental depression and child cognition. In the context of recent global health crises, increased reliance on the family due to homeschooling and lack of resources makes these results a crucial factor in treatment planning and outcomes.