Childcare Helps Kids of Depressed Mothers Overcome Emotional Issues

A latest study states that daycare can help children of depressed mothers reduce the risk of emotional problems.

Mothers with elevated maternal depressive symptoms (MDSs) are likely to have children with developing depression. Catherine M. Herba, PhD, of the University of Quebec in Montreal, and colleagues conducted a population-based potential cohort study, within the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of daycare on children with depressed mothers.

"It's interesting to think of this as a possible type of intervention and a way of supporting mothers in general, but especially mothers who are at risk," said Catherine Herba, from the University of Quebec at Montreal.

The researchers examined nearly 1,800 children born in Quebec in 1997-1998 and their mothers through the child's fifth birthday. Mothers were regularly surveyed about their depression symptoms and reported on their child's emotional problems and separation anxiety, as well as the type of childcare they used, reports Reuters.

At the time of study around 19 percent mothers had depression symptoms. The study found that children of mothers with MDSs who attended daycare had lesser emotional problems and social withdrawal symptoms compared to those who received only maternal care.

Around 79 percent children who were in daycare showed reduced risk of developing depression. Throughout the study, nine to 31 percent of preschoolers had emotional problems depending on whether their mothers were depressed and where they received care.

According to previous studies children of depressed mothers were twice likely to face emotional issues and separation anxieties.

The researchers noted that the number of hours spent in childcare does not matter but the kind of care given to the kids matters.

"In conclusion, we found for the first time to date in a population-based longitudinal study spanning the full preschool period that early child care has a protective influence for children of mothers with elevated MDSs, reducing children's risks for emotional problems and social withdrawal symptoms," the authors wrote.