Conceptual model for maternal behavior among polydrug cocaine-using mothers: the role of postnatal cocaine use and maternal depression

Abstract

This study examined the association between maternal cocaine use and maternal behavior and tested a conceptual model predicting maternal insensitivity during mother-infant interactions. Participants included 130 mother-infant dyads (68 cocaine-exposed and 62 non-cocaine-exposed) who were recruited after birth and assessed at 4-8 weeks of infant age. Results of model testing indicated that when the effects of prenatal cocaine use were examined in the context of polydrug use, maternal psychopathology, maternal childhood history, and infant birth weight, only postnatal cocaine use and maternal depression/anxiety were unique predictors of maternal insensitivity during mother-infant interactions.

Figure 1

Conceptual model. Not depicted in this model but included in model estimation are associations among maternal depression/anxiety, anger/hostility, prenatal substance abuse, and postnatal substance abuse.

Figure 2

Final model. Not depicted in this model but included in model estimation were associations between the residuals of maternal depression/anxiety and pregnancy binge drinking (β = .16) and number of cigarettes smoked postnatally (β = .16). This model also included covariances between residuals of prenatal and postnatal substance use variables. These were not depicted in the figure because they were not significant in the context of model testing. ⁺p < .10. *p < .05. **p < .01.