Children’s Internalizing, Externalizing, Sexualized Behavior, and Social Competence as Predicted by Maternal Level of Depression: Are These Associations Moderated by Child Sex and Mothers’ History of Sexual Abuse?"
Abstract
Maternal depression is often related to child functioning, including child internalizing,
externalizing, and sexualized behavior, as well as child social competence. However, little
research has investigated how child sex and mothers’ history of sexual abuse can affect the
influence of maternal depression on these outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine
how maternal depression affects internalizing, externalizing, and sexualized behavior, as well as
child social competence of their children. Additionally, this study examines whether these
relationships differ according to child sex and mothers’ history of sexual abuse. This study
examines 820 children and mothers in a high-risk sample. We found that maternal depression is
more predictive of child internalizing, externalizing, and sexualized behavior in children whose
mothers have a history of sexual abuse than those who do not. Furthermore, the relationship
between mothers’ depression and child internalizing, externalizing, and sexualized behavior is
strongest for sons of mothers with a history of sexual abuse. Our results indicate that mothers’
depression is related to child behavioral and emotional adjustment and that child sex and
mothers’ history of sexual abuse do moderate these relationships. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Keywords
child abuse, child sexual abuse, mothers, risk factors, research
Citation
Pyle, R. A. (2014). Children’s Internalizing, Externalizing, Sexualized Behavior, and Social Competence as Predicted by Maternal Level of Depression: Are These Associations Moderated by Child Sex and Mothers’ History of Sexual Abuse? Doctoral dissertation. Auburn, AL: Auburn University).