Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Jun;33(5):509-19.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsm104. Epub 2007 Nov 8.

Mediators of depressive symptoms in children with type 1 diabetes and their mothers

Sarah S Jaser  1 , Robin Whittemore, Jodie M Ambrosino, Evie Lindemann, Margaret Grey
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Mediators of depressive symptoms in children with type 1 diabetes and their mothers

Sarah S Jaser et al. J Pediatr Psychol. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationships among maternal and child depressive symptoms and child and family psychosocial factors.

Method: Secondary analysis of baseline data for a coping skills intervention for school-age children (ages 8-12) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their mothers. Children and mothers completed measures of depressive symptoms, coping, quality of life, and family functioning.

Results: There was a strong relationship between maternal and child depressive symptoms (r = .44, p < .001). Maternal depressive symptoms were negatively related to child quality of life, perceptions of coping, and family functioning. Impact of diabetes on quality of life, finding coping with diabetes upsetting, and family warmth mediated the relationship between maternal and child depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Maternal depression may negatively affect child adjustment through its influence on quality of life, coping, and family functioning. Implications for interventions to improve psychosocial adjustment in children with T1D are discussed.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Child Perceptions of Coping as a Mediator of Maternal and Child Depressive Symptoms. Standardized coefficients are presented for each step in this pathway.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Impact of Diabetes on Quality of Life as a Mediator of Maternal and Child Depressive Symptoms. Standardized coefficients are presented for each step in this pathway.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Family Warmth/Caring as a Mediator of Maternal and Child Depressive Symptoms. Standardized coefficients are presented for each step in this pathway.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Adrian C, Hammen C. Stress exposure and stress generation in children of depressed mothers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1993;61:354–359. - PubMed
    1. American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes - 2007. Diabetes Care. 2007;30:S4–S41. - PubMed
    1. Anderson BJ, Vangsness L, Connell A, Butler D, Goebel-Fabbri A, Laffel LMB. Family conflict, adherence, and glycaemic control in youth with short duration Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 2002;19:635–642. - PubMed
    1. Baron RM, Kenny DA. The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1986;51:1173–1182. - PubMed
    1. Beardslee WR, Gladstone T, Wright EJ, Cooper AB. A family-based approach to the prevention of depressive symptoms in chidlren at risk: Evidence of parental and child change. Pediatrics. 2003;112:119–131. - PubMed

Publication types