The Relationship Between Maternal Depression and Antisocial Behavior in Children
The article covers a recent study conducted to associate maternal depression with antisocial behavior in children. Data analyzed in the study were drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Class of 1998–1999 (ECLS-K), developed under the U.S Department of Education (Gajos & Beaver 350). The aim of the being to measure children's experiences at school and home. The participants in the study included mothers and their kids in the kindergarten. Additionally, variables used in the study include age, socio-economic class, and race. The study was successful as the findings proved that indeed there is a relationship between maternal depression and antisocial behavior in children. Furthermore, depression and high cortisol levels during pregnancy were found to affect the baby’s temperament after birth. Also, Infants born to depressed mothers were found to have low birth weights and stagnant child development. Finally, postpartum depression was found to raise the risk of conduct disorder diseases and maternal depression level predicted the behavior of children under seven.
Methods and Findings
Since the research design was randomized, the methods used for analysis included t-tests for hypothesis testing and PSM in matching the depressed and non-depressed mothers. Depression was measured for both the mothers and the children using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D Scale). This scale is easy to use and convenient in measuring depressive symptoms for individuals and in groups. Interpretation of the levels depression in a participant was arrived at after calculating the Cronbach's alpha from the data.
The Importance of Diversity in the Research
The diversity of a sample is vital in this research. However, there was a need to match the mothers' characteristics to reduce biases, which were only possible by introducing propensity scores matching (PSM). The matching had an immense effect on the stress levels in the participants with different incomes. Before the matching of the participants, women with low income were unrealistically depressed as compared to the high-income earners.
Analysis and Interpretation of Results
In this research, the t-tests were used in interpreting the results of both depressed and non-depressed mother before and after matching. Despite finding positive correlation between maternal depression and antisocial behavior in children, the researcher took into consideration the existence of hidden biases. Therefore, to reduce the effects that the hidden biases had on the validity of the study, Rosenbaum bounds sensitivity analysis was used.
Opinion
The validity of a test requires that no interferences be made especially on the participants. However, in this article, the researchers had controlling variables as mothers reported on the behavioral changes in their children. Instead, the researchers should have observed the children to reduce the biases of the data collected. Additionally, there are inconsistencies in the findings. For instance, the study established a relationship of maternal depression on antisocial behavior in children and found that by the eighth-grade, children are independent and their surroundings do not affect their behavior. Consequently, fresh research should be conducted in consideration of other factors that cause antisocial behavior in kids.
Implications and Recommendations
The study may be considered valid despite the confounder that increased the bias of the results. Scholars in this field should use the findings and expound on depression for both parents and their children. From the findings, we learn that poverty may also cause maternal depression. Additionally, the study clarifies that depressive family environment and school environment affects the behavior of a child up to a certain age after which the child's personality takes place.
Works Cited
Gajos, J. M., and K. M. Beaver. “Maternal Depression and Risk for Antisocial Behaviour in Children.” Child and Family Social Work, vol. 22, no. 1, 2017, pp. 349–63, doi:10.1111/cfs.12247.
