effects of...
Effects of Depressed Mothers on InfantsIn studying disturbed interactions of depressed mothers and their newborns, it has helped us realize the importance of early interactions with infants that can effect later development. Infants who interact with depressed mothers (particularly chronically depressed mothers) have a higher risk for later negative social interaction and behavioral problems. Depressed behavior in mothers is related to affective and disturbances in infants (Abrams, Field, Scafidi, & Prodromidis, 1995). Depressed mothers and their infants also appear to share negative affective behavior states more often than non-depressed dyads (Abrams, et al,1995). Along with exhibiting fewer positive facial expressions, infants of depressed mothers vocalize less frequently than infants of non-depressed mothers. Videotapes of depressed mothers and their infants interacting in face-to-face situations when coded second by second suggest that depressed mothers spend less time looking at their infants, touching them and talking to them, and they show few positive faces and more negative faces (Field, 1995). Because of this, infants have lower activity levels as well as less vocalization. They also tend to look away more frequentl
However, although there have been thorough investigation on infants of depressed mothers, there are should be more information using a sequential design. It has been observed that mothers who were depressed during the first few months of their infants' life but were no longer depressed by 6 months had infants who also were no longer depressed, and their development was normal at 1 year (Field, 1995). The infant then becomes more attentive and responsive. The infants of depressed mothers' greater emphasis to their mothers' negative behavior imply that the infants may be mimicking their mothers' predominant mood state. In one study, the use of relaxation and massage therapy techniques with depressed mothers showed positive effects for both groups. Newborns showed more positive facial expressions and vocalization. Which leads us to find ways to some how combat these negative behaviors that lead to such affects. The depressed dyads spent a greater amount of time together in negative states. Studies have shown that newborns of depressed mothers were known to perform more poorly on the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale. The infants of the depressed mothers seemed to have become accustomed to their mothers' depressed behavior, and they had developed a depressed mood that persisted across the still-faced interaction (Field, 1995). In the Field (1995) study, infants of depressed mothers were more negative than infants of non-depressed mothers when interacting with non-depressed adults. Greater coherence was noted in !infant and mother behavior/heart rate for the non-depressed versus the depressed. In addition, the infants' had an elevated heart rate which also suggest that the infants were stressed during these interactions. One of the most common parenting problems for depressed mothers include their depressed mood state and their lesser awareness to their infants' emotional cues. Because of the results of the depressed infants' behavior with non-depressed adults, this lead to the interest of whether or not the "depressed" behavior subsides or persists in the later stages of the infants development.
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