Moria Smoski
In this study, researchers found that infants of depressed mothers have difficulty learning in response to their mothers’ speech, which can lead to learning and behavioral challenges.
Clinical post partum depression affects 1 out of every 10 mothers. Depression has a significant effect on the life of the mother, but research has started to show that having a depressed parent also affects children. Children of depressed mothers are more likely to have behavioral challenges, anxiety and depression themselves (Pilowsky, et al, 2006). In this study, the researchers measured infant directed speech given by depressed and non-depressed mothers. They found that depressed mothers had more flat speech, which resulted in infants of both depressed and non-depressed mothers not learning from the speech. These same infants, though, were able to engage and learn from non-depressed mothers’ speech – whether their own mother or a stranger.
This study has some important implications. If an infant is not exposed to engaging speech from a non-depressed caregiver, the infant may have difficulties with learning and attachment (Kaplan, et al, 2002). This can lead to later deficits in school readiness (NICHD Early Child Care Research Network, 1999). However, if treated quickly enough, depressed mothers have a high likelihood of achieving complete remission.
Encouragingly, when a mother has been treated for depression and gets better, her child not only often gets better but has less likelihood for future psychological challenges (Weissman, et al, 2006).
The results of this study, co-authored by Kaplan, Bachorowski, Smoski, and Hudenko, were published in Psychological Science in 2002.
References
Kaplan, P.S., Bachorowski, J., Smoski, M.J., & Hudenko, W.J. (2002). Infants of depressed mothers, although competent learners, fail to learn in response to their own mothers’ infant-directed speech. Psychological Science. 13(3): 268-271.
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (1999). Chronicity of maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and child functioning at 36 months. Developmental Psychology, 35, 1297-1310.
Pilowsky, D.J., Wickramaratne, P.J., Rush, A.J., Hughes, C.W., Garber, J., Malloy, E., et al (2006) Children of currently depressed mothers: A STAR*D ancillary study. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 67(1): 126-136.
Weissman, M.M., Pilowsky, D.J., Wickramaratne, P.J., Talati, A., Wisniewski, S.R., Fava,, et al (2006). Remissions in maternal depression and child psychopathology: a STAR*D-child report. Journal of the American Medical Association. 295(12):1389-1398.