Am. Thomas et al., CHANGE IN MATERNAL DEPRESSIVE MOOD - UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS TO ADOLESCENT FUNCTIONING OVER TIME, Adolescence, 30(117), 1995, pp. 43-52
There is substantial evidence of the relationship between maternal dep
ressive mood and problematic child functioning. The vast majority of s
tudies in this area concentrate on cross-sectional designs and depress
ive mood at one point in time. In contrast to the existing literature,
the goal of this study was to investigate the relation of change in m
aternal depressed mood across time and adolescent functioning, includi
ng the possible moderating effects of gender of the adolescent and the
marital status of parents. Regression analyses indicated that increas
ed depressed mood across one year predicted teacher report of higher l
evels of externalizing and internalizing problems and lower levels of
social competence, above that which could be predicted from the initia
l assessment of depressed mood. With one exception, neither gender nor
parental marital status qualified the findings. The results suggest t
hat static levels of maternal depressive mood are not sufficient for f
orecasting adolescent functioning. Future research needs also to consi
der change in such mood.