The relationship between maternal depression, in-home violence and use of physical punishment: what is the role of child behaviour?

Abstract

Background: The combined impact of maternal depression and in-home violence, and how their relationship with physical punishment varies with child behaviour are unknown.

Objectives: To determine the combined impact of maternal depression and violence exposure on smacking and explore the role of child behaviours in this relationship.

Methods: Multivariable regression analysis of a sample of kindergarten children. Maternal depressive symptoms, violence exposure and smacking were measured by parent interview. Child behaviours were reported by teachers.

Results: 12,764 mother-child dyads were examined. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for smacking among depressed mothers was 1.59 (95% CI 1.40 to 1.80), mothers exposed to in-home violence 1.48 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.85) and dually exposed mothers 2.51 (95% CI 1.87 to 3.37). Adjusting for child self-control or externalising behaviour did not change these associations, and no effect modification by child behaviour was detected. Among mothers smacking children, depression was associated with increased smacking frequency (adjusted incident rate ratio (aIRR) 1.12; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.24), but became borderline significant after adjusting for child self-control or externalising behaviour (aIRRs 1.10; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.21). Depressed mothers exposed to violence demonstrated higher rates of smacking (aIRR 1.29; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.53); this remained stable when adjusting for child behaviours.

Conclusion: Maternal depression and violence exposure are associated with smacking, particularly when depression and violence co-exist, when they are also associated with smacking frequency. Child self-control and externalising behaviour do not substantially impact the association between maternal depressive symptoms, violence exposure and smacking.

Figure 1. ECLS-K mothers with depressive symptoms and violence exposure

*Data on in-home violence was missing in 2,610 (17%) cases. However, the majority of these (all but 1%) were due to non-applicability of the question (most commonly, the mother did not have a partner), as opposed to non-response.