Prevalence, trajectories, and risk factors for depression among caregivers of young children involved in child maltreatment investigations

Cecilia Casanueva, Theodore P. Cross, Heather Ringeisen, Sharon L. Christ

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examines depression among caregivers of young children involved in investigations of child maltreatment, in terms of 12-month prevalence of depression across 5 to 6 years. Data were from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a national probability study of 5,501 children investigated for maltreatment. The study sample comprised 1,244 female caregivers (95.5% biological mothers) of children not placed out of home and younger than 5 years old. About a quarter of caregivers had, at any given point, a score indicating major depression in the previous 12 months; across all follow-ups, 46% of caregivers had a score indicating major depression at some point. Depression was associated with caregivers' report of intimate-partner violence and fair or poor health status. Caregivers of maltreated children are at substantial risk for depression that does not diminish over the course of 5 years. Assessing and providing assistance for intimate-partner violence and health problems may help decrease depression prevalence.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)98-116
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011

Keywords

  • NSCAW
  • caregivers' mental health
  • child welfare

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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