How Depressive Symptomatology of Mothers of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders Relates to their Participation in Relationship Focused Intervention
This descriptive, exploratory study investigated whether the depressive symptoms of mothers of young children with Pervasive Developmental Disabilities (PDD) was associated with their participation in a relationship focused intervention. Nineteen parent-child dyads received weekly Responsive Teaching (RT) intervention sessions for 10 months. Results indicated significant pre- post- differences in parents’ responsivenss with their children as well as children’s development and social emotional functioning. Changes in mothers’ responsivenss accounted for between 5 to 26% of the variance in intervention changes in children’s development and social emotional functioning. While mothers’ depressive symptoms were not associated with intervention changes in responsiveness, they were negatively associated with intervention changes in children’s development and social emotional functioning. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for early intervention practice.
Keywords: Early intervention, Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Relationship, Focused Intervention, Parental Responsiveness, Parenting Depression
Abbeduto, L., Seltzer, M. M., Shattuck, P., Krauss, M. W., Orsmond, G., & Murphy, M. (2004). Psychological well-being and coping in mothers of youths with autism, Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 109, 3, 237-254.
Aldred, C., Green, G., Emsley, R., & McConachie, H. (2012). Brief report: Mediation of treatment effect in a communication intervention for preschool children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 42, 447-454.
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association.
Bagnato. S. J., Neisworth, J., Salvia, J.J., & Hunt, F.M. (1999). Temperament and Atypical Behavior Scale. Baltimore, MD.: Paul Brookes.
Bayley, N. (1993). Bayley Scales of Infant Development (2nd edition). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Beck, A., Hastings, R. P., Daley, D., & Stevenson, J. (2004). Pro-social behavior and behavior problems independently predict maternal stress. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 29, 339-349.
Campbell, S. B., Cohn, J. F., & Meyers, T. (1995). Depression in first-time mothers: mother-infant interaction and depression chronicity. Developmental Psychology, 31, 349–357.
Carter, A.S., Messinger, D.S., Stone, W.L., Celimli, S ; Nahmias, A.S. , Yoder, P. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of Hanen's 'More Than Words' in toddlers with early autism symptoms Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry, 52, 741-752.
Coolican, J., Smith, I.M., Bryson, S.E. (2010). Brief parent training in pivotal response treatment for preschoolers with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51, 1321 – 1330.
Feinberg, E., Donahue, S., Bliss, R., Silverstein, M, (2012). Maternal depressive symptoms and participation in early intervention services for young children. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16, 336–345.
Field, T. (2002). Prenatal effects of maternal depression. In S. H. Goodman & I. H. Gotlieb (Eds.), Children of depressed parents: Mechanisms of risk and implications for treatment (pp.59–88).
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Gupta, V. B. (2007). Comparison of parenting stress in different developmental disabilities. Journal of Developmental Physical Disabilities, 19, 417-425.
Harris, S.R., Megens, A.M., Backman, C.L.,& Hayes, V.E (2005). Stability of the Bayley II Scales of Infant Development in a sample of low-risk and high-risk infants. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 47, 820 – 823.
Karaaslan, O. & Mahoney, G. (2013). Effectiveness of Responsive Teaching with children with Down syndrome. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51, 458-469
Karaaslan, O. Diken, I., & Mahoney, G. (2013). A randomized control study of Responsive Teaching with young Turkish Children and their mothers. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 32, 172-182.
Koseck, K. (1999) Review and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the revised Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 11, 198–204. Kurstjens, S., & Wolke, D. (2001). Effects of maternal depression on cognitive development of children over the first 7 years of life. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 42, 623– 636.
Kurstjens, S. and Wolke, D. (2001). Effects of maternal depression on cognitive development of children over the first 7 years of life. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 42 , 623-636.
Mahoney, G. (1992). The Maternal Behavior Rating Scale-Revised. Available from the author, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. 44106.
Mahoney, G. & Bella, J. (1998). An examination of the effects of family-centered early intervention on child and family outcomes. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. 18, 83-94.
Mahoney, G., & MacDonald, J. (2007) Autism and developmental delays in young children: The Responsive Teaching curriculum for parents and professionals. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Mahoney, G. & Nam, S. (2011). The parenting model of developmental intervention. In R.M.. Hodapp (Ed.), International Review of Research on Mental Retardation, 41. New York, NY: Academic Press, 73-125.
Mahoney, G. & Perales, F. (2003). Using relationship-focused intervention to enhance the social-emotional functioning of young children with autism spectrum disorders. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 23 (2), 77-89.
Mahoney, G., & Perales, F. (2005). A comparison of the impact of relationship-focused intervention on young children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and other disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 26 (2). 77-85.
Mahoney, G., Powell, A., & Finger, I. (1986). The Maternal Behavior Rating Scale. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 6, 44-56.
Murray, L., Fiori-Cowley, A., Hooper, R., & Cooper, P. J. (1996). The impact of postnatal depression and associated adversity on early mother-infant interactions and later infant outcome. Child Development, 67, 2512–2526.
Newborg, J., Stock, J.R., Wnek, L., Guidbaldi, J., & Svinicki, J.(1984). The Battelle Developmental Inventory. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (1999). Chronicity of maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and child functioning at 36 months. Developmental Psychology, 35, 1297–1310.
Radloff, L.S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement,1, 385-401.
Sallows, G.O., Graupner, T.D. & MacLean, W.E. . (2005) Intensive Behavioral Treatment for children with autism: four-year outcome and predictors. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110. 417-438.
Sandall, S., Hemmeter, M.L., Smith, B.J., & McLean, M.E. (2005). DEC recommended practices: A comprehensive guide for practical application in early intervention/ early childhood special education. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
Singer, G. H. (2006) Meta-analysis of comparative studies of depression in mothers of children with and without developmental disabilities. American Journal on Mental Retardation 111, 155–69.
Solomon R, Van Egeren L, Mahoney G, Quon-Huber M, Zimmerman P. (2014). PLAY Project home consultation intervention program for young children with autism spectrum disorders: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 35, 475-485.
Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Balla, D. A. (2005). Vineland adaptive behavior scales, Second edition, survey interview form/caregiver rating form. Livonia, MN: Pearson Assessment.
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidel, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). Boston, Mass.: Allyn and Bacon.
Veisson M. (1999) Depression symptoms and emotional states in parents of disabled and non-disabled children. Social Behavior and Personality 27, 87–97.
Winton, P.J., Bretherton, M.J., and Summer, J.A. (2008). Learning from the field of early intervention about partnering with parents. In Cornish,M.M (Ed.). Promising practices with families in the early years. Charlotte, N.C.: 21-40.
Zablotsky, B., Anderson, C., Law, P. (2013) The association between child autism symptomatology, maternal quality of life, and risk for depression. Journal of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 43, 1946-1955.
Abbeduto, L., Seltzer, M. M., Shattuck, P., Krauss, M. W., Orsmond, G., & Murphy, M. (2004). Psychological well-being and coping in mothers of youths with autism, Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 109, 3, 237-254.
Aldred, C., Green, G., Emsley, R., & McConachie, H. (2012). Brief report: Mediation of treatment effect in a communication intervention for preschool children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 42, 447-454.
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association.
Bagnato. S. J., Neisworth, J., Salvia, J.J., & Hunt, F.M. (1999). Temperament and Atypical Behavior Scale. Baltimore, MD.: Paul Brookes.
Bayley, N. (1993). Bayley Scales of Infant Development (2nd edition). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Beck, A., Hastings, R. P., Daley, D., & Stevenson, J. (2004). Pro-social behavior and behavior problems independently predict maternal stress. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 29, 339-349.
Campbell, S. B., Cohn, J. F., & Meyers, T. (1995). Depression in first-time mothers: mother-infant interaction and depression chronicity. Developmental Psychology, 31, 349–357.
Carter, A.S., Messinger, D.S., Stone, W.L., Celimli, S ; Nahmias, A.S. , Yoder, P. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of Hanen's 'More Than Words' in toddlers with early autism symptoms Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry, 52, 741-752.
Coolican, J., Smith, I.M., Bryson, S.E. (2010). Brief parent training in pivotal response treatment for preschoolers with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51, 1321 – 1330.
Feinberg, E., Donahue, S., Bliss, R., Silverstein, M, (2012). Maternal depressive symptoms and participation in early intervention services for young children. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 16, 336–345.
Field, T. (2002). Prenatal effects of maternal depression. In S. H. Goodman & I. H. Gotlieb (Eds.), Children of depressed parents: Mechanisms of risk and implications for treatment (pp.59–88).
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Gupta, V. B. (2007). Comparison of parenting stress in different developmental disabilities. Journal of Developmental Physical Disabilities, 19, 417-425.
Harris, S.R., Megens, A.M., Backman, C.L.,& Hayes, V.E (2005). Stability of the Bayley II Scales of Infant Development in a sample of low-risk and high-risk infants. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 47, 820 – 823.
Karaaslan, O. & Mahoney, G. (2013). Effectiveness of Responsive Teaching with children with Down syndrome. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51, 458-469
Karaaslan, O. Diken, I., & Mahoney, G. (2013). A randomized control study of Responsive Teaching with young Turkish Children and their mothers. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 32, 172-182.
Koseck, K. (1999) Review and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the revised Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 11, 198–204. Kurstjens, S., & Wolke, D. (2001). Effects of maternal depression on cognitive development of children over the first 7 years of life. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 42, 623– 636.
Kurstjens, S. and Wolke, D. (2001). Effects of maternal depression on cognitive development of children over the first 7 years of life. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 42 , 623-636.
Mahoney, G. (1992). The Maternal Behavior Rating Scale-Revised. Available from the author, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. 44106.
Mahoney, G. & Bella, J. (1998). An examination of the effects of family-centered early intervention on child and family outcomes. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. 18, 83-94.
Mahoney, G., & MacDonald, J. (2007) Autism and developmental delays in young children: The Responsive Teaching curriculum for parents and professionals. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
Mahoney, G. & Nam, S. (2011). The parenting model of developmental intervention. In R.M.. Hodapp (Ed.), International Review of Research on Mental Retardation, 41. New York, NY: Academic Press, 73-125.
Mahoney, G. & Perales, F. (2003). Using relationship-focused intervention to enhance the social-emotional functioning of young children with autism spectrum disorders. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 23 (2), 77-89.
Mahoney, G., & Perales, F. (2005). A comparison of the impact of relationship-focused intervention on young children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and other disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 26 (2). 77-85.
Mahoney, G., Powell, A., & Finger, I. (1986). The Maternal Behavior Rating Scale. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 6, 44-56.
Murray, L., Fiori-Cowley, A., Hooper, R., & Cooper, P. J. (1996). The impact of postnatal depression and associated adversity on early mother-infant interactions and later infant outcome. Child Development, 67, 2512–2526.
Newborg, J., Stock, J.R., Wnek, L., Guidbaldi, J., & Svinicki, J.(1984). The Battelle Developmental Inventory. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.
NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. (1999). Chronicity of maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and child functioning at 36 months. Developmental Psychology, 35, 1297–1310.
Radloff, L.S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement,1, 385-401.
Sallows, G.O., Graupner, T.D. & MacLean, W.E. . (2005) Intensive Behavioral Treatment for children with autism: four-year outcome and predictors. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110. 417-438.
Sandall, S., Hemmeter, M.L., Smith, B.J., & McLean, M.E. (2005). DEC recommended practices: A comprehensive guide for practical application in early intervention/ early childhood special education. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
Singer, G. H. (2006) Meta-analysis of comparative studies of depression in mothers of children with and without developmental disabilities. American Journal on Mental Retardation 111, 155–69.
Solomon R, Van Egeren L, Mahoney G, Quon-Huber M, Zimmerman P. (2014). PLAY Project home consultation intervention program for young children with autism spectrum disorders: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 35, 475-485.
Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Balla, D. A. (2005). Vineland adaptive behavior scales, Second edition, survey interview form/caregiver rating form. Livonia, MN: Pearson Assessment.
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidel, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). Boston, Mass.: Allyn and Bacon.
Veisson M. (1999) Depression symptoms and emotional states in parents of disabled and non-disabled children. Social Behavior and Personality 27, 87–97.
Winton, P.J., Bretherton, M.J., and Summer, J.A. (2008). Learning from the field of early intervention about partnering with parents. In Cornish,M.M (Ed.). Promising practices with families in the early years. Charlotte, N.C.: 21-40.
Zablotsky, B., Anderson, C., Law, P. (2013) The association between child autism symptomatology, maternal quality of life, and risk for depression. Journal of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 43, 1946-1955.
Mahoney, G., Wiggers, B., Nam, S., Kralovic, S., vd. (2015). How Depressive Symptomatology of Mothers of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders Relates to their Participation in Relationship Focused Intervention. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 6(2), 204-221. https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.86233