The effects of perceived maternal parenting styles on the disruptive behaviours of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/oppositional defiant disorder : Mediation by hostile biased social cognitions
- Authors: Gomez, Rapson , Gomez, Andre
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Advances in Psychology, Volume II Chapter 8 p. 37-55
- Full Text: false
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- Description: B1
- Description: 2003000181
The construct validity of the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptoms : A multitrait-multisource approach based on father and mother ratings
- Authors: Carroll, Steve
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: There has been considerable debate over the construct validity of the Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms in past research due to measurement error (e.g., source effects) associated with parent and teacher ratings of childhood behaviour. Recent multitrait-multisource (MT-MS) studies have attempted to account for measurement error by using multiple sources involving parents and teachers. These studies have identified low trait variance in the AD/HD and ODD dimensions, thereby raising questions about the validity of the AD/HD - inattention (IN), AD/HD - hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I), and ODD constructs. However, as these studies examine ratings from different settings (i.e., home and school) it can be argued that the low trait variance in the AD/HD constructs may reflect cross-situational differences. The current research used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures to examine the internal and external validity of AD/HD and ODD symptoms based on ratings (i.e., mother and father) from individuals in the same setting...
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
Attitudes toward parenting in a lesbian and gay community convenience sample
- Authors: Riggs, Damien , McLaren, Suzanne , Mayes, Alys
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health Vol. 13, no. 1 (2009), p. 51 - 61
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- Description: This study sought to measure attitudes of lesbians and gay men toward lesbian and gay parents. Participants (126 gay men and 139 lesbians from 5 Australian states) were given one vignette featuring either a lesbian, gay, or heterosexual couple parenting a 16-year-old child. They rated the vignette parents in terms of their parenting competencies and suitability as parents. Findings suggest that overall, lesbian and gay parents were rated more positively than heterosexual parents, with lesbian participants being more likely to rate parents overall in more positive ways. Regression analysis did not find that the parent status of participants predicted their ratings of gay or lesbian parents per se, but a correlation was found between the number of children that participants had and their rating of the vignettes. This suggests the importance of future research including not only larger and more diverse sample sizes, but also research that examines the interaction of parenting status, gender, and number of children upon attitudes toward heterosexual, lesbian, and gay parents.
Improving mental health of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes: protocol for a randomized controlled trial of the nothing ventured nothing gained online adolescent and parenting support intervention
- Authors: Hackworth, Naomi , Matthews, Jan , Burke, Kylie , Petrovic, Zvezdana , Klein, Britt , Northam, Elisabeth , Kyrios, Michael , Chiechomski, Lisa , Cameron, Fergus
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Public Health Vol. 13, no. 1 (2013), p. 1185.1 -1185.10
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- Description: Management of Type 1 diabetes comes with substantial personal and psychological demands particularly during adolescence, placing young people at significant risk for mental health problems. Supportive parenting can mitigate these risks, however the challenges associated with parenting a child with a chronic illness can interfere with a parent’s capacity to parent effectively. Interventions that provide support for both the adolescent and their parents are needed to prevent mental health problems in adolescents; to support positive parent-adolescent relationships; and to empower young people to better self-manage their illness. This paper presents the research protocol for a study evaluating the efficacy of the Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained online adolescent and parenting intervention which aims to improve the mental health outcomes of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.
Children with cormobid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder : Mediation by hostile biased social cognitions on the relation between perceived maternal parenting styles and the disruptive behavior symptoms
- Authors: Gomez, Rapson , Gomez, Andre
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Focus on Behaviorial Psychology Chapter 9 p. 47-65
- Full Text: false
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- Description: B1
- Description: 2003000502
The role of dissonance in the experience of mothering
- Authors: Wing-Quay, Vanessa
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , Doctorate
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- Description: Maternal dissonance, a specific type of maternal cognition, has been researched little in terms of its importance for the mother. This lack of research has occurred despite the fact that general social discourse assumes the vital importance of dissonant cognitions, based on the notion of the 'perfect mother' image. In the research reported here, maternal dissonance was studies in relation to maternal well-being.
- Description: Professional Doctorate in Psychology
Maternal fatigue, parenting self-efficacy, and overreactive discipline during the early childhood years: A test of a mediation model
- Authors: Lesniowska, Raelene , Gent, Angela , Watson, Shaun
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Clinical Psychologist Vol. , no. (2015), p.
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- Description: Fatigue is common among mothers of infants and young children and associated with a range of negative parenting outcomes. Little is understood, however, about the mechanisms by which fatigue may impact on parenting, particularly among mothers beyond 12 months post-partum. This study investigated the relationship between maternal fatigue and overreactive discipline, and whether parenting self-efficacy mediates this relationship. Methods: Participants were 252 Australian mothers of 1-4 years old children. Levels of fatigue, parenting self-efficacy, and overreactive discipline were recorded via a self-report questionnaire. Results: A simple mediation model analysis provided support for the direct effect of fatigue on overreactive discipline, as well as the mediation of this relationship by parenting self-efficacy. Conclusions: These findings suggest fatigue may contribute to overreactive discipline in mothers of young children via two pathways: directly, and indirectly via parenting self-efficacy. Interventions that support mothers to manage fatigue and maintain a sense of parenting self-efficacy while facing ongoing exhaustion may promote the use of more effective and less adverse discipline responses with children.
Ideals and realities in Chinese immigrant parenting: Tiger mother versus others
- Authors: Guo, Karen
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Family Studies Vol. 19, no. 1 (2013), p. 44-52
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- Description: This paper is about Chinese immigrant parenting. Drawing on discourses of cultural ideals and living realities of Chinese immigrants, it sketches the complex cultural and contextual web of Chinese immigrant parenting, and explains why the tiger mother practice illustrated in one of the 2011 bestselling books Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother was a story of a mother's pursuit of cultural ideals in her parenting. The paper proposes that traditions and contexts both play an important role in the constitution of parental expectations and practices of Chinese immigrants.
The fatigue and depressive symptom relationship in mothers of young children : The moderating role of mindfulness
- Authors: Riley, Kym , Gent, Angela , McLaren, Suzanne , Caunt, Jeremy , Stavropoulos, Vasileios
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Mindfulness Vol. 9, no. 6 (2018), p. 1955-1965
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- Description: Previous studies have demonstrated that fatigue is a risk factor for depressive symptoms in mothers of young children. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the five facets of mindfulness moderated the relationship between fatigue and depressive symptoms in mothers of young children. A sample of 723 mothers of children aged 1–5 years completed the Fatigue Assessment Scale, the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form. Results showed that four out of the five mindfulness facets (non-judging of inner experience, non-reactivity to inner experience, acting with awareness, and describing) weakened the relationship between fatigue and depressive symptoms. Interaction effects were found to be small. Further investigation of the unique roles of the five mindfulness facets as well as other possible protective factors and interventions that may weaken the fatigue-depressive symptom relationship in mothers of young children is warranted.
The lived experience of security and contentment for latency aged children in shared care, post-separation : a descriptive phenomenological enquiry
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "As a result of complex social, economic and legislative factors, the number of children in shared time arrangements (in which children spend equal, or near-equal time, with both parents post-separation) has risen steadily and incrementally in Australia and internationally. Despite the increasing numbers of children in this arrangement, conceptualisations of and discussions about shared care remain largely devoid of children's perspectives about their experiences. As a result, little is known about how children experience this way of living. This study used a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore latency aged (aged 8-12) children's lived experience of security and contentment, and their absence, in a shared care time arrangement." "Interviews were conducted with sixteen children across a diversity of living arrangements (levels of parental cooperation and conflict; self-selected and Court-ordered; day-to-day patterns) who had current or recent experience living in shared care. From this pool of interviews, the eight richest and detailed protocols were selected for descriptive phenomenological analysis. Through a process of detailed analytic exploration of these eight individual descriptions of phenomena under investigation (security and contentment in shared care; the absence of security and contentment in shared care), the core constituents of each phenomenon were discerned. From these, General Structures representing the essence, or the invariants common to all experiences under investigation, were identified. This thesis introduces a child-generated phenomenology of security and contentment, and their absence, in shared care. This phenomenology is based on the careful analysis of children's pre-reflective narrative descriptions, describing core aspects of this arrangement that contribute to their felt security and contentment, and core aspects that compromise it. Ultimately, this thesis presents the child's lived experience of feeling securely shared by parents in the context of a shared time living arrangement. "
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Getting into the “Dad Zone” : how do primary caregiving fathers of young children experience social support?
- Authors: Gill, Peter , Scacco, Sarina , De Haan, Sarah , Gent, Angela , Chapin, Laurie , Ganci, Michael , Morda, Romana
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Child and Family Studies Vol. 30, no. 4 (2021), p. 1028-1042
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- Description: Primary caregiving fathers (PCGFs) are a growing population that experience unique struggles on a day-to-day basis. The current study aimed to explore how fathers interpret and experience their daily responsibilities and interactions with social support, as they undertake their roles as primary caregivers. Using grounded theory, 14 PCGFs defined as those providing sole care for their 1–10 year olds for at least 25 h per week, participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their experiences of fatherhood and social supports. Participants highlighted the ways in which social support, particularly adult companionship, helped them find a social balance and allowed them to re-energise and be better fathers. In particular, the men reported that interaction with people with similar experiences was important in helping them to discursively negotiate their non-traditional roles. Analysis revealed a three-stage identity transition process where the men initially took on primary responsibility, then began to embody the primary care giver role, and finally transitioned to a new normal. The PCGFs in the study provide evidence that we may be observing a shift from what may be classed as outdated notions of one-dimensional fathering to a more well-informed masculine ideal that embraces caring and nurturing qualities. However, providing further avenues of support for PCFGs is important in order to mitigate possible social isolation and to enhance their wellbeing. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.
Peer support of fathers on reddit : quantifying the stressors, behaviors, and drivers
- Authors: Teague, Samantha , Shatte, Adrian
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Psychology of Men and Masculinity Vol. 22, no. 4 (2021), p. 757-766
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- Description: This article aimed to delineate the behavioral patterns of fathers in seeking and providing peer support on the popular social media site Reddit using a sample of 2,393 users. First, fathers’ support-seeking posts were characterized, finding that fathers self-disclosed a range of individual, familial, and societal stressors, including topics sensitive to traditional male gender roles. Second, peers’ comments were differentiated by support type, with differences observed in the behaviors, emotions, and language that peers use when providing advice, confirmation, and encouragement. Third, the relationship between types of fatherhood stressors and their associated peer comments was mapped. While fathers seeking support for individual stressors received fewer comments, the support provided utilized more actionoriented language. Finally, a statistical model was developed to examine the factors that drive peer support on the fatherhood forums, which are observed to influence the quality of peers’ comments and peers’ commenting behaviors. Combined, the findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the peer support environment for fathers on social media like Reddit, strengthening the research literature that is limited to qualitative evidence to date. The results have important implications for formal support services targeting fathers, both online and offline © 2021 American Psychological Association
SMS4 perinatal parents: designing parenting support via text messages for mothers with severe mental illness (SMI) and their partners
- Authors: Fletcher, Richard , Campbell, Linda , Sved Williams, Anne , Rawlinson, Catherine , Dye, Jacob
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Advances in Mental Health Vol. 17, no. 1 (2019), p. 85-95
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- Description: Objective: This paper will describe the development of a programme of SMS messages including parenting information and support to be sent to the mobile phones of mothers with severe mental illness (SMI) and their partners from early pregnancy to 24 weeks post birth. Method: Text messages (total 176) designed and tested for fathers (SMS4Dads) addressing father-infant attachment, co-parenting and self-care (including Mood Tracker texts asking fathers to rate their mood) were adapted by an expert advisory group of clinicians with experience across perinatal mental health services. Messages were rated on importance, clarity, acceptability (separately for mothers and fathers) and being consistent with current evidence. Additional messages were developed specifically for this population and all messages were tested for literacy level. The SMS4dads ‘Mood Tracker’ was redesigned to address common stress-inducing parenting issues such as infant crying, lack of sleep, and self-doubt about capacity to parent with an escalation process in cases of significant distress. Results: Separate protocol tested text-message banks for mothers (141 messages), and fathers (141 messages) were developed. Fourteen Mood Tracker topics were developed with two levels of distress escalation linked to local mental health services. Discussion: The need for accurate descriptions of health interventions processes is widely recognised, particularly in the case of digital mental health. This study provides a detailed description of the adaptive design by clinicians and researchers of brief text messages suitable for mothers with severe mental illness and their partners. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Jacob Dye" is provided in this record**
A mixed-methods study of two modes of the circle of security
- Authors: Sadowski, Christina , Goff, Rachel , Sawyer, Neroli
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research on Social Work Practice Vol. 32, no. 1 (2022), p. 49-60
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- Description: Purpose: This study compared the impact, challenges, and benefits of the Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) intervention across two delivery modes: group center-based (GCCOS-P) and individual home-based (IHCOS-P). Methods: This mixed-methods study compared the impact of the COS-P on parental reflective functioning and parental stress across two delivery modes: GCCOS-P (n = 7) and IHCOS-P (n = 7). It compared the challenges and benefits of each, from the qualitative perspectives of participants (n = 2 IHCOS-P; n = 3 GCCOS-P) and facilitators (n = 4). Results: Quantitative statistical analysis comparing pre- and postintervention measures suggest that each delivery mode was equally effective in reducing parental stress and generally noneffective with respect to parental reflective functioning. Challenges and benefits of each mode, inherent in the peer/shared learning environment of the GCOS-P and the individualized, flexible delivery of the IHCOS-P, were identified. Discussion: This study adds to knowledge about the widely utilized COS-P, highlighting challenges and benefits of two modes of delivery. © The Author(s) 2021.
Predictors and impact of women's breastfeeding self-efficacy and postnatal care in the context of a pandemic in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
- Authors: Sweet, Linda , Muller, Amanda , Kearney, Lauren , Martis, Ruth , Hartney, Nicki , Davey, Kym , Daellenbach, Rea , Hall, Helen , Atchan, Marjorie
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Midwifery Vol. 114, no. (2022), p.
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- Description: Objective: To investigate predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy, postnatal care experiences, and there subsequent impact on breastfeeding outcomes in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A cross-sectional online survey collected data between August and October 2020 with recruitment via social media. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analyses, and linear and logistic regression analysis related to the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form findings. Open text responses were analyzed using content analysis. Findings: There were 1001 complete responses. Visitor restrictions impacted the woman's early parenting experience in both positive and negative ways. One third of participants stated their postnatal needs were not met with 82 stating that they had no postnatal care at all. During the first six weeks postnatal, 48.1% felt not very or not at all confident caring for their baby. Despite 94.3% of participants initiating breastfeeding, only 70% were exclusively breastfeeding at six weeks. The mean self-efficacy score was 49.98 suggesting the need for additional help, with first time mothers having a statistically significant lower score. Discussion/conclusion: Sub-optimal postnatal care and support negatively influence breastfeeding self-efficacy. Women desired additional help during the COVID-19 pandemic inclusive of support and education to meet their postnatal needs and exclusively breastfeed. Implications for practice: Women require appropriate and timely postnatal care and support to promote confidence in caring for baby and achieve their breastfeeding goals. Preferably this care should be provided face-to-face. © 2022
An Australian adaptation of the strengthening families program: Parent and child mental health outcomes from a pilot study
- Authors: Burn, Michele , Lewis, Andrew , McDonald, Louise , Toumbourou, John
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian psychologist Vol. 54, no. 4 (2019), p. 261-271
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- Description: This is the first pilot study to examine the Australian adaptation of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP), a manualised family intervention recommended internationally in evidence reviews to improve family functioning and child mental health. The study compared two versions (8 vs. 14-session) and longitudinally evaluated outcomes for child emotional and behavioural difficulties, and parental psychological distress. Fifty-eight families from disadvantaged primary schools in regional Victoria with children 8-12-years (80.6% of initially enrolled families, 62 parents and 74 children) completed the program and evaluation measures. Measures were repeated at pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up and included the Kessler 6, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and subscales adapted from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children and Communities that Care Youth Survey. The program showed significant reductions in child difficulties and parental psychological distress from pre- to post-measurements that were sustained at follow-up. Reductions in parental psychological distress were significantly associated with reductions in child difficulties at follow-up. The 8- and 14-session formats were not found to be significantly different in reducing child difficulties or parental psychological distress. Effect sizes for the Australian version were similar to those reported in previous U.S. trials. Findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of an Australian adaptation of the SFP. The current study is unique in identifying similar outcomes for shorter and longer versions of the intervention. It is recommended that the 8-session Australian version is examined in a larger randomised controlled trial where children present with behavioural and emotional problems.
“You are not alone”: A big data and qualitative analysis of men's unintended fatherhood
- Authors: Smith, Imogene , Youssef, George , Shatte, Adrian , Teague, Samantha , Knight, Tess , Macdonald, Jacqui
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: SSM. Qualitative research in health Vol. 2, no. (2022), p. 100085
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- Description: Becoming a father is a profound change in a man's life that is not always planned or wanted. Little is known about the subjective experiences of men who become fathers unintentionally or reluctantly. The aim of this research was to explore how men who did not intend to have children discuss their feelings about becoming a father in an online, anonymous environment. We sought insights into emotional responses, appraisals of family functioning, and relationships with infants. Data were collected from two Reddit forums for new and expectant fathers, r/Daddit and r/Predaddit. Approximately 2600 posts and 21,000 comments were extracted from the period between January 2019 and March 2020. We employed a two-stage methodology, blending big data techniques and qualitative analyses. Stage One included extraction and data preparation for topic modelling Stage Two was an adapted approach to thematic qualitative analysis. Topic modelling revealed 49 topics of which 6 were relevant thematically to unintended fatherhood. Men's communication in these were then classified within three domains: 1) Men's Concerns included their mental health, problems bonding with baby, their relationships with family and partner, and finances 2) Men's Affective Experiences existed on a spectrum of complex emotions including regret, resignation, ambivalence, acceptance, and excitement and 3) the Purpose of Communication included asking for and offering advice, normalisation, and perspective. Online forums like Reddit provide a unique opportunity for fathers who did not intend to have children to normalize their experience by expressing concerns and emotions in a pseudonymous environment. This study highlights the supportive environment that online discussions offer to fathers, and particularly unexpected fathers who may face stigma or barriers in other settings.
Maternal social support, depression and emotional availability in early mother-infant interaction: Findings from a pregnancy cohort
- Authors: MacMillan, Kelli , Lewis, Andrew , Watson, Stuart , Bourke, Declan , Galbally, Megan
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of affective disorders Vol. 292, no. (2021), p. 757-765
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- Description: •Maternal depression in pregnancy was not predictive of postpartum maternal emotional availability (EA).•Maternal depression in pregnancy was not associated with perceived social support.•Depressive symptoms negatively predict maternal EA when partner support is low.•Depressive symptoms negatively predict maternal EA when family support is low.•Support from friends is not a moderator between depressive symptoms and maternal EA. Social support theory suggests that parental social support may influence the nature of early parenting behaviours and specifically the mother-infant relationship. This study examines whether support from a partner, friends or family is associated with differences in quality of mother-infant interactions in the context of maternal depression. 210 women were followed from early pregnancy to six months postpartum within Australian pregnancy cohort, the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study (MPEWS). Mother-infant interactions within a standardised observation at six months postpartum were measured by the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales using total scores of the parental scales. In early and late pregnancy and at six months postpartum, mothers rated perceived maternal social support from a partner, family and friends using subscales of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Depression was measured in early pregnancy and at six months postpartum using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV-TR, with repeated measurement of depressive symptoms by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Data was analysed using structural equation models. There were significant interactions between depressive symptoms in early pregnancy and perceived maternal support from a partner (B = .18, 95% CI = 03, .31) and separately from family (B = .12, 95% CI = .03, .32) in predicting maternal emotional availability. No such interaction was found for support from friends. While partner and family support moderated the association between early depressive symptoms and emotional availability, there were no direct associations between maternal depressive disorder in early pregnancy and perceived support, and further, maternal depression was not a significant predictor of emotional availability. Future studies should consider extending measurement of the mother-infant relationship beyond the EA Scales, inclusion of a measure of maternal childhood trauma, and replicating our findings. Maternal perception of partner and family support in the postpartum is a predictor of the association between early pregnancy depressive symptoms and maternal emotional availability.
Parenting stress, maternal depression and child mental health in a Melbourne cohort before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Authors: Galbally, Megan , Watson, Stuart , Lewis, Andrew , van Ijzendoorn, Marinus
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health Vol. 58, no. 11 (2022), p. 2051-2057
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- Description: Aim: This paper aims to examine the maternal and child mental health and parenting outcomes in the context of COVID-19 pandemic conditions using a sample from Melbourne, Australia – a city exposed to one of the longest lockdowns world-wide in response to the pandemic. Methods: This study utilises observational data from a prospective, pregnancy cohort, Mercy Pregnancy Emotional Wellbeing Study and includes 468 women and their children followed up in Melbourne to 3–4 years postpartum pre-COVID pandemic and compared to those followed up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: When compared to mothers followed up at 3–4 years postpartum pre-pandemic, those followed up during the COVID-19 pandemic showed higher depressive symptoms with a steep incline in their symptom trajectory (EMMdifference = 1.72, Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.01, d = 0.35) and had a three times higher risk of scoring 13 or above on the EPDS (aRR = 3.22, Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.01). Although this increase was not associated with the variation in the duration of exposure to pandemic conditions, the steep increase in depressive symptoms was more pronounced in those with pre-existing depressive disorders. There was no difference in parenting stress or adjusted childhood mental health symptoms or disorder. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the vulnerability of those with pre-existing clinical mental health disorders and the need for adequate clinical care for this vulnerable group. Equally, our study indicates the possibility that parenting and early childhood mental health outcomes, at least in the short term, may be resilient. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physicians).
Maternal attachment state of mind and perinatal emotional wellbeing : findings from a pregnancy cohort study
- Authors: Galbally, Megan , Watson, Stuart , Lewis, Andrew , Power, Josephine , Buus, Niels , van Ijzendoorn, Marinus
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Affective Disorders Vol. 333, no. (2023), p. 297-304
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- Description: Objectives: Maternal attachment state of mind is an important potential predictor of risk and resilience to perinatal emotional wellbeing and early parenting. To explore maternal attachment in relation to perinatal depression and emotional wellbeing. Methods: This study drew on data collected within an ongoing cohort from 170 women recruited in early pregnancy, including 67 who met criteria for Major Depression. Maternal attachment state of mind was assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) in pregnancy. Additional measures included the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM (SCID), at 12 months the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP), Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Parenting Stress Index, and antenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations (HCC). Limitations: Sample size to be able to undertake all analyses using the 4 way classifications, cortisol measurement is limited to hair only and there is no prospectively collected measure of childhood trauma in mothers. Conclusions: This study found that maternal attachment, specifically the Non-Autonomous states of mind, adjusted for clinical depression, was associated with higher cortisol in pregnancy and higher depressive symptoms across pregnancy and the postpartum. Furthermore, separately those with depression and Non-Autonomous states of mind also had higher postpartum parenting stress. There was no significant intergenerational concordance between AAI and SSP attachment classifications. Our findings support future research exploring the role of maternal attachment state of mind in understanding perinatal depression and emotional wellbeing. © 2023 The Author(s)