A1 Journal article (refereed)
Mother–Infant Interaction and Maternal Postnatal Psychological Distress Associate with Child’s Social-Emotional Development During Early Childhood : A FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study (2024)

Lahtela, H., Flykt, M., Nolvi, S., Kataja, E.-L., Eskola, E., Tervahartiala, K., Pelto, J., Carter, A. S., Karlsson, H., Karlsson, L., & Korja, R. (2024). Mother–Infant Interaction and Maternal Postnatal Psychological Distress Associate with Child’s Social-Emotional Development During Early Childhood : A FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-024-01694-2

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lahtela, Hetti; Flykt, Marjo; Nolvi, Saara; Kataja, Eeva-Leena; Eskola, Eeva; Tervahartiala, Katja; Pelto, Juho; Carter, Alice S.; Karlsson, Hasse; Karlsson, Linnea; et al.

Journal or series: Child Psychiatry and Human Development

ISSN: 0009-398X

eISSN: 1573-3327

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 16/04/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-024-01694-2

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94453

Abstract

We studied the effects of mother–infant interaction and maternal pre- and postnatal psychological distress on children’s social-emotional problems and competences, as well as whether interaction quality moderates the association between distress and children’s outcomes. Maternal pre- and postnatal psychological distress were measured using the SCL and EPDS questionnaires, whereas mother–infant interaction was measured when the child was 8 months old using the EA Scales. Children’s social-emotional development was measured using the BITSEA questionnaire at 2 years old and using the SDQ questionnaire at 4 years old, where higher maternal structuring was associated with fewer social-emotional problems in children and higher maternal sensitivity was associated with greater social-emotional competence in children at 2 years old. Further, higher postnatal distress was found associated with greater social-emotional problems at 2 years old, though neither these effects nor moderating effects at 4 years old were observed after multiple-comparison corrections. Our findings support direct associations of both mother–infant interaction and maternal postnatal psychological distress with children’s social-emotional development during toddlerhood.

Keywords: parents; parenthood; parent-child relationship; mothers; maternity; children (family members); child development

Free keywords: mother–infant interaction; maternal psychological distress; child social-emotional development; social competence

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1