Correlates of maternal depressive symptoms in a national Head Start program sample.

OBJECTIVE: To examine correlates of maternal depressive symptoms in a diverse, national sample of mothers whose kindergarten-aged children attended a Head Start program. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional study of 5820 mothers was conducted during their child's kindergarten year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Rates of maternal depressive symptoms were assessed by a validated 3-item depression screen. RESULTS: The ethnic makeup of the group of mothers was non-Hispanic white, 46%; African American, 30%; Hispanic, 13%; American Indian, 6%; Asian American, 1%; and other, 4%. The mean (SD) age of the mothers was 30.1 (5.55) years, 57% were unemployed, and 68% had at least a high school diploma or had earned a high school equivalency diploma. More than 40% of the mothers screened positive for depressive symptoms. The strongest associations after controlling for several biological and demographic variables were maternal chronic health problem (adjusted odds ratio, 2.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.98-3.87), homelessness (adjusted odds ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-2.77), and lowest income level (adjusted odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.88). CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms were common among mothers of young children in this national sample. Interventions must be targeted at alleviating maternal depressive symptoms by decreasing poverty, providing support programs for single parents, and establishing accessible and affordable medical care for all parents and their children. Primary care physicians can play a key role in early identification and intervention.

Advantage profiles: a tool for health care professionals working with parents with mental retardation.

Health professionals concerned about the needs of parents with mental retardation are beginning to distinguish characteristics which facilitate and inhibit their parenting abilities. Child health is dependent on adequate parenting abilities. A composite of research findings has been derived to develop not only a risk profile that identifies potential problem areas, but also an advantage profile that identifies specific strengths of parents with mental retardation. The advantage profile uniquely focuses on parental assets that can be reinforced and used to foster child health.

Family influences on child health status.

Concern about the effect of family characteristics on child health status, as measured by comprehensive screening examination, prompted this study. Family routines and home environment for 110 children enrolled in a Head Start program revealed significant correlations with a summative variable from child health data recorded on school records. These findings indicate that higher levels of family routines and more stimulating home environments are significantly correlated with child health status. Knowledge about these important family influences can assist health care providers to better define family risk factors and aid in the development of more specific suggestions for improved family life, especially among low socioeconomic families.

Primary health care for children of mothers with intellectual limitations.

Intellectually impaired mothers can present a challenge to pediatric nurses. The lack of basic organizational and decision-making skills needed to provide positive nurturing can interfere with the health and development of their children. This descriptive study of the well child needs of 62 two-year-old children from low income families found that children of mothers with intellectual limitations had more frequent referrals for medical or developmental problems, accidents, and problems with hygiene and discipline than children of mothers without intellectual limitations. The needs of families with an intellectually limited mother must be recognized and evaluated if appropriate health care of children is to be accomplished.

Home environment of mothers with mental retardation.

A prospective study of 38 mothers with IQs less than 75 and 27 mothers with IQs over 85 who were also low income was conducted. This study was designed to distinguish between children's developmental risk associated with maternal disability and risk related primarily to poverty. Findings from administration of the HOME inventory showed that mothers with intellectual limitations had significantly lower scores, indicating greater developmental risk for their children due to environmental deprivation. Most of the variance between groups was found on the interaction subscale. This suggests that strategies focused on interaction will be beneficial in assisting mothers with intellectual limitations in raising their children.

Family characteristics of preschool social competence among black children in a Head Start Program.

Social competence has been suggested to serve a protective function in emotional functioning and may compensate for some deleterious experiences. This study found that adherence to family routines and older fathers were significant predictors of preschool social competence. The subjects were 91 black children enrolled in a metropolitan Head Start program who were rated for social competence by their teachers.

Native American children and adolescents: cultural distinctiveness and mental health needs.

Native American families have powerful reservoirs for resilience. Many families experience oppression, exploitation, and poverty that contribute to mental health disturbances. Cultural traditions associated with harmony can promote positive mental health for Native American children and adolescents. Health care providers will benefit from knowing risks, cultural expressions of coping, and a framework for contextual assessment and intervention. The purpose of this paper is to respond to the challenge of developing practices, programs, and policies that are culturally sensitive and helpful for people who need nursing care.