Maternal depression can have a huge impact on family wellness; not only does it affect you as a mother, but a wealth of research suggests that your child’s wellbeing can also be affected.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, if you’re depressed, you have a reduced responsiveness towards infant distress, which, as you can discern for yourself, can lead to harmful effects on your child. However, the good news with this study is that the researchers noted cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) served to reduce depression in mothers and this made them more responsive towards infant distress.
Other research, this time published in the journal Paediatrics, has found that, if you begin to become depressed when your child is around nine months old, your child is more likely to be short for their age around the ages of four and five. The researchers surmised that children of depressed mothers may have an ‘increased stress response’ which means that they have higher levels of cortisol, and lower levels of growth hormones. This could be the reason why they are shorter.
Nerina Garcia-Arcement, a licensed clinical psychologist, comments that there are, in fact, many negative wellness outcomes for children of depressed mothers. She explains, ‘A depressed mother often is less responsive to their child’s needs (i.e. when distressed, hungry) and does not have the emotional and physical energy to play and cuddle with their child. This can be disruptive to forming a secure and healthy emotional bond with each other. When a child does not feel safe and secure they can go on to become isolated, have difficulties making friends and develop anxiety and depression.’
If you are suffering from depression, you need to make treatment a priority for your own health as well as your children’s. ‘A parent is modelling for a child how to cope with challenges,” Garcia-Arcement adds. ‘The best example a mother could set for her child is that when you don’t feel well, you don’t ignore it. Instead you prioritise your wellbeing and you seek out help. Things they can do include speaking to a mental health professional, reaching out to friends and family for social support, attending mum groups in person or participating online.’
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