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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Aug;36(5):671-680.
doi: 10.1037/fam0000940. Epub 2021 Nov 29.

Characteristics of maternal depression and children's functioning: A meta-analytic review

Susanna Sutherland  1 , Bridget A Nestor  1 , Abigail E Pine  1 , Judy Garber  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Characteristics of maternal depression and children's functioning: A meta-analytic review

Susanna Sutherland et al. J Fam Psychol. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Maternal depression is associated with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral problems in offspring, but the substantial heterogeneity of depression precludes a full understanding of these associations. Variation in course of depression, characterized by severity or chronicity, may be related differentially to children's development. The current meta-analytic review examined the relations of these characteristics of maternal depression to children's developmental outcomes. Twenty-nine studies were identified and reviewed; the majority (93%) of studies reported a negative association between some aspect of maternal depression and children's adjustment. Separate meta-analyses revealed significant effect sizes for severity (Fisher's z = -.243) and chronicity (adjusted Fisher's z = -.337) of maternal depression and children's cognitive or behavioral functioning. Findings are synthesized across features of maternal depression; methodological limitations within the empirical literature are discussed; and recommendations for future research are suggested. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Prisma Flow Diagram.
Plot 1.
Plot 1.
Severity
Plot 2.
Plot 2.
Chronicity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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