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ERIC Number: EJ1473076
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jul
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0163-9641
EISSN: EISSN-1097-0355
Available Date: 2025-03-03
Perinatal Discrimination and Maternal Depressive Symptoms Associated with Infant Development in African American Families
Brenda Jones Harden1,2; Tiffany L. Martoccio2; Colleen M. Morrison2; Shelby Brown2
Infant Mental Health Journal: Infancy and Early Childhood, v46 n4 p376-390 2025
Research has documented elevated experiences of racial discrimination among African American families, and its adverse impacts on their psychological well-being. However, most studies have investigated the experiences of and consequences for older children and adults. The goal of the current study was to examine the relations among mothers' perception of discrimination during pregnancy, pre- and post-natal depressive symptoms, and infant development in African American families from low-income backgrounds. Using a longitudinal design with questionnaires and direct assessments, this study included 118 African American mothers (and infants) who participated in three data collection sessions: the third trimester of pregnancy (home); 4 weeks postpartum (phone); and when infants were 4-6 months old (home). Analyses revealed that mothers' perceived prenatal discrimination was strongly associated with depressive symptomatology and that maternal depression was related to infant cognitive and fine motor skills. Perceived prenatal discrimination was significantly related to infant cognitive development. For mothers with higher levels of perceived discrimination, a higher level of depressive symptomatology was related to receptive language. These findings are considered in the context of the extant literature on perinatal stress, maternal functioning, and young infant outcomes. Implications for early childhood and infant mental health practice are discussed.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Administration for Children and Families (ACF) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 90YR0070
Author Affiliations: 1Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York, USA; 2Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methods, University of Maryland College of Education, College Park, Maryland, USA