Prenatal maternal family stress and internalizing problem behavior in young children: A multiple mediation model

Previous research found a broad range of postnatal parental risk factors for the development of internalizing problems in children, but much remained unclear about the influence of prenatal parental characteristics on child internalizing problems. In the current study it is proposed that prenatal maternal (family) stress is associated with postnatal maternal characteristics (i.e. maternal depressive symptoms and maternal parenting stress), thereby posing a risk for the development of internalizing problem scores in young children. First, gender differences on child internalizing problem scores were tested. Furthermore, the moderating role of child gender in the association between prenatal maternal family stress and child internalizing problem scores was examined. Finally, the mediating roles of maternal depressive symptoms and maternal parenting stress in the association between prenatal maternal family stress and child internalizing problem scores were examined in a multiple...Show morePrevious research found a broad range of postnatal parental risk factors for the development of internalizing problems in children, but much remained unclear about the influence of prenatal parental characteristics on child internalizing problems. In the current study it is proposed that prenatal maternal (family) stress is associated with postnatal maternal characteristics (i.e. maternal depressive symptoms and maternal parenting stress), thereby posing a risk for the development of internalizing problem scores in young children. First, gender differences on child internalizing problem scores were tested. Furthermore, the moderating role of child gender in the association between prenatal maternal family stress and child internalizing problem scores was examined. Finally, the mediating roles of maternal depressive symptoms and maternal parenting stress in the association between prenatal maternal family stress and child internalizing problem scores were examined in a multiple mediation model. The current study was conducted within the Generation R Study, a population-based cohort from fetal life onwards. Mothers reported on prenatal family stress at 20 weeks of gestation, depressive symptoms at 6 months postpartum, parenting stress at 18 months postpartum, and child internalizing problem scores were measured when the child was 3 years of age. In the present study, 2,776 families participated. The proposed multiple mediation model was tested using bootstrapping analyses. No significant gender differences were found for child internalizing problem scores. In addition, results showed that child gender did not moderate the association between prenatal family stress and child internalizing problem scores. Furthermore, results supported the proposed multiple mediation model. The association between prenatal maternal family stress and child internalizing problem scores was partly mediated through maternal depressive symptoms and parenting stress. In conclusion, we found that lower levels of family functioning experienced by mothers prenatally placed children at risk of developing internalizing problem scores. In addition, we found that part of this association was explained by maternal postnatal depressive symptoms, and maternal postnatal parenting stress.Show less

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Prenatal maternal family stress and internalizing problem behavior in young children: A multiple mediation model