College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Spring 6-8-2018

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Kathryn Grant, PhD

Second Advisor

Jocelyn Carter, PhD

Abstract

Depression can go beyond influencing the livelihood of a woman, Mothers with depression often have difficulty paying attention to their children, and can fail to establish a bond with them (Delaney, 2017). The current study looked for a relation between children’s internalizing symptoms and their mothers’ depressive symptoms, and whether or not strength of the mother-child bond mediates that relation. Significant effects of maternal depression were found on child’s internalizing symptoms. Barron and Kenny’s four step method to establishing mediation was used (Barron & Kenny, 1983; Mackinnon et al., 2007). Based on Barron and Kenny’s criterion for establishing mediation, mediation was found. Specifically, the mother-child relationship was found the mediate the relationship between maternal depression and child’s internalizing symptoms. Implications of the results are discussed.

SLP Collection

no

Included in

Psychology Commons

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