Helping mothers fight depression: Evaluation of a home-based intervention program for depressed mothers and their infants

Abstract

Studied demographically matched groups of 38 nondepressed and 73 clinically depressed mothers of 3- to 13-month-old infants in a home visit intervention (n = 37) or usual care (n = 36). Intervention mothers improved more in reported depression and daily hassles than the other groups (ps < .01). Better maternal and child adjustment accompanied decreased depression. Maternal punitiveness significantly increased in depressed control but not other groups, yielding a marginal (p = .06) Time × Group interaction. Social support decreased among depressed control mothers only. More children of depressed mothers were insecurely attached, and intervention children were less avoidant/inhibited and more resistant/coercive than children of depressed controls.