Maternal depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and verbal behavior: A social-cognitive analysis

Two studies applied a social-cognitive interpersonal process model to investigate mechanisms underlying the association of maternal depressive symptoms with maternal relationship satisfaction and maternal verbal behavior. Study 1 participants were 86 mothers of 6-12-year-old children with a history of ADHD. Study 2 participants were 81 mother-child dyads recruited from a children's inpatient unit and the surrounding community. Negative trait perceptions and negative affective reactions mediated the effect of maternal depressive symptoms on both maternal relationship satisfaction and maternal verbal behavior. The link between maternal depression level and negative maternal reactions remained after controlling for the child's psychological problems. Results support the value of applying social-cognitive constructs to clinical problems that are embedded in distressed interpersonal relationships.