Predictors and Transition Patterns of Children’s Problem Behavior Trajectories Based on Latent Classes of Mothers’ Depression in Infancy

Key Points

• The research aims to identify how maternal depression influences children's externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors during early childhood.
• Analyzed data from 1,371 participants across multiple time points (2010-2014) using latent profile analysis and growth mixture modeling.
• Examined the impact of maternal parenting stress, couple conflict, and father involvement on children's behavior trajectories.
• Identified latent classes of maternal depression and children's problem behavior patterns.
• Two distinct latent classes of maternal depression were identified: 'low depression' and 'moderate depression.'
• Two patterns of children's behavior were found: 'high-increasing' and 'low-decreasing' problem behaviors from ages 4 to 6.
• Higher maternal depression significantly increases the likelihood of children exhibiting 'high-increasing' problem behaviors during early childhood.

Abstract