Mom’s Depression Linked With Child’s Behavior
Reported January 21, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Children of depressed mothers have increased problems with conduct and more antisocial behavior, according to a new study.
Researchers in the United Kingdom examined 1,116 sets of twins and their mothers to see if there was a link between maternal depression during the children’s first five years of life and children’s antisocial behavior by age 7.
Results show maternal depression after the twins’ birth, but not before their birth, was associated with antisocial behavior in children. The likeliness of antisocial behavior in children by age 7 increased when mothers were depressed during the first five years of their children’s life.
Children with the highest risk of developing antisocial behavior had mothers who were both depressed and antisocial. Researchers believe three factors can contribute to this increased risk of antisocial behavior in children:
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Depressed women are likely to have antisocial personality traits linked with depression.
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They are likely to bear children with antisocial men.
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The children of depressed mothers may inherit a genetic predisposition to antisocial behavior.
The study’s authors believe genetic as well as environmental factors should be considered when trying to assess a child’s risk for developing antisocial behavior.
SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005:62;173-181