NCJ Number
154077
Journal
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1993) Pages: 245-269
Date Published
1993
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This study proposed and tested a series of structural equation models of the relationship between maternal depression and errors in maternal reports on their children's behavior.
Abstract
The models assumed that maternal depression is unrelated to maternal reporting behavior; maternal depression causally influences maternal reporting accuracy; and maternal depression correlates with reporting accuracy. These models were fitted to data on maternal depression and multiple-informant (mother, teacher, child) reports of conduct disorder and attention deficit behaviors for a cohort of 12- and 13-year-old New Zealand children. The results of model fitting suggest small to moderate correlations between maternal depression and maternal reporting errors, showing a tendency for maternal depression to be associated with a mother's exaggeration of child behavioral problems; however, independent of any effects of maternal depression on maternal reporting errors, there was evidence of small but significant associations between maternal depression and child conduct disorder and attention deficit behaviors. 5 tables and 53 references