Depression is Most Common During Childbearing Years

An estimated 19 million Americans suffer from serious depression.  In an effort to understand the roots of this widespread disorder, researchers are studying the effects of depression on children.  Since a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development takes place in the home, the presence of depression in one or both parents can have a serious impact on the child’s emotional health.  Studies have found that children who grow up with parents who are suffering from depression have a greater than 50% risk of becoming depressed themselves.  They also are at greater risk for other psychiatric disorders and for developmental problems.

Why a Mother’s Depression is More Likely to Affect Her Children

Women are diagnosed with depression twice as often as men are.  Due perhaps to hormonal changes, depression is most common during a woman’s childbearing years.  In addition, mothers tend to spend more time with their children than fathers.  This means that mothers are more likely to have an impact on their children due to depression and to transmit vulnerability for depression and other psychiatric problems.

When is a Mother’s Sadness Actually Depression?

Depression is more than a feeling of sadness.  It is a psychiatric condition recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.  The common symptoms of depression are listed below.  One of the first two symptoms is always present and must persist for more than a week in order for an official diagnosis of depression to be made.

• Depressed mood
• Loss of pleasure in usual activities
• Low energy and fatigue
• Sleep and appetite disturbance
• Negative view of oneself and the future
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Thoughts of suicide and death

Children React Differently at Different Ages

A mother’s depression will have different effects on her children at different stages in their lives.  The impact on infants and toddlers can be significant.  An infant may not develop the ability to emotionally attach to others if the mother is distant due to depression.  This can lead to difficulties with interpersonal relationships later in life.  For toddlers, developmental milestones related to speech, movement and behavior can be delayed due to a lack of stimulation from the mother.  On the other hand, some depressed mothers interact too much with their babies due to their own emotional needs.  This overstimulation can also impact a child’s natural development.

By the time the child of a depressed mother enters school, he or she may be behind in a number of functional areas.  Studies have found that these children have fewer relationships with other children and experience more academic and behavioral problems.  Throughout childhood and adolescence, they are at greater risk for depression, anxiety and emotional disorders.  This is especially true if the home environment includes marital discord or divorce, poverty, or a father who also has psychiatric disorders.

Older children may be subjected to increased criticism from mothers who become depressed.  Communication may be difficult and their mother may lose interest in their schoolwork and behavior.  An older child often has to take over some of the depressed mother’s household duties and take care of younger siblings, leading to anxiety and self-esteem issues in the child.

A depressed mother may not be able to set limits and discipline her older children, especially adolescents.  This can leave them vulnerable to poor choices and risky behavior.  In addition, teenagers who develop their own problems with depression are at greater risk of suicide than younger children or adults.

Children Can Rebound Following Treatment of Mother

Fortunately, nearly 80% of people with clinical depression will improve with psychotherapy and medication.  The sooner that a mother’s depression is identified and treated, the greater are the chances for her recovery.  The good news for families is that successful treatment of the mother brings improved mental health for her children.  According to a new study completed by the National Institute of Mental Health, the children of women whose depression responded to treatment tend to show overall improvements in psychological and social functioning both at home and at school.