NCJ Number
184166
Journal
Journal of Child and Family Studies Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: June 1999 Pages: 181-192
Date Published
June 1999
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study explores the contribution of current and historical life events, family conflict, perceived social support from mother, maternal depression, and maternal explanatory style to the depressive symptoms of inner-city African-American school-age children (median age, 10-7 years).
Abstract
Data from 89 African-American caregiver-child pairs were included in the present study. Children (36 males), ranging in age from 8 to 12, and their mothers were interviewed. A majority (55 percent) of the mothers had never married, and the average level of education completed was low. Median annual family income from all sources ranged from $5,000 to $10,000, and a majority (51 percent) of the families received Aid to Families with Dependent Children. The data collected focused on the joint contributions of historical risk factors, particularly abuse history; current major life stressors, daily stressors, family conflict, maternal depression, maternal explanatory style, and maternal support for children's depressive symptoms. Regression analyses showed that the children in this sample with higher levels of depressive symptoms had higher levels of child-reported daily stress, were more likely to have been abused at some time in their past, came from homes with mothers who were less well educated, and had mothers who reported higher levels of depression, a past history of domestic abuse, and a less pessimistic explanatory style. 2 tables and 34 references