Perceived child behavior problems, parenting stress, and maternal depressive symptoms among prenatal methamphetamine users

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2012 Dec;43(6):943-57. doi: 10.1007/s10578-012-0305-2.

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine parenting stress, maternal depressive symptoms, and perceived child behavior problems among mothers who used methamphetamine (MA) during pregnancy. Participants were a subsample (n = 212; 75 exposed, 137 comparison) of biological mothers who had continuous custody of their child from birth to 36 months. The subsample was drawn from a larger, ongoing longitudinal study on the effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure (n = 412; 204 exposed, 208 comparison) (Arria et al in Matern Child Health J 10:293-302 2006). Mothers who used MA during pregnancy reported more parenting stress and more depressive symptoms than a matched comparison group. There were no differences between groups on perceived child behavior problems. In a hierarchical linear model, depressive symptoms, and perceived child behavior problems, but not MA exposure, were statistically significant predictors of parenting stress. Screening for potential parenting problems among mothers with a history of substance abuse is warranted. Parenting interventions targeting depressive symptoms, parenting stress, and child behavior problems are needed for this population.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / adverse effects*
  • Child Behavior Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Hawaii / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Methamphetamine / adverse effects*
  • Mother-Child Relations
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / chemically induced
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methamphetamine