Elsevier

Behavior Therapy

Volume 29, Issue 3, Summer 1998, Pages 409-422
Behavior Therapy

Original Research
The relationship between maternal HIV status and child depressive symptoms: Do maternal depressive symptoms play a role?*

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(98)80040-3Get rights and content

This study examined whether maternal depressive symptoms serve as a mediator, moderator, or both, between maternal HIV status (absence vs. presence of HIV) and child depressive symptoms. Participants were 224 noninfected children, ages 6 to 11, and their mothers, 38% of whom were HIV-infected. Initial analyses indicated that HIV-infected mothers and their children reported more depressive symptoms than noninfected mothers and their children. The primary analyses suggested that maternal depressive symptoms play a moderating, but not a mediating, role as the direction of the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and child depressive symptoms differed between HIV-infected and noninfected groups. Explanations for the findings are offered and implications for prevention and intervention programs are considered.

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  • Cited by (16)

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    *

    Appreciation is expressed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Georgia's Institute for Behavioral Research for support. In particular, the support of Dr. Janet Moore and Dr. Kim Miller of the CDC is acknowledged.

    1

    Heather Biggar, Department of Psychology; Rex Forehand, Institute for Behavioral Research. Members of the Family Health Project Research Group include Rex Forehand (PI, University of Georgia), Lisa Armistead (Co-PI, now at Georgia State University), Edward Morse (Co-PI, Tulane University), and Patricia Simon (Co-PI, LSU Medical Center).

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