Facts In Action

While many studies have focused on the relationships between mothers and children, some have started to examine the relationships between all caregivers and children. Now, new research is looking at the role of the caregivers’ mental health on the children in their care.

In the case of depression, several studies are showing that non-familial caregivers (those unrelated to the child they care for) who describe themselves as depressed or having symptoms of depression can be less attentive to a child’s needs. As a result, these children become less likely to develop their full intellectual, social, and emotional capacities. As well, their language abilities do not develop as much as their peers. A recent study by Drs. Bridget Hamre and Robert Pianta finds that certain factors lessen the impact of depressed caregivers’ compromised care and attention to children. These include the education level of the caregiver, the type of care setting (i.e. family child care, center-based care, etc.), and the time spent without another adult present.

According to the report:

• Depressed yet more educated caregivers are usually more responsive and sensitive to children than less educated and depressed caregivers.
• The less structured environment of family child care (FCC) settings allows the depressive symptoms of FCC providers to affect their quality of care more than it does in centers.
• The presence of another adult helps relieve the stress of a depressed caregiver and enables them to provide better care and attention to children.

Overall, these findings provide the groundwork for an important aspect of early childhood research that should examine further how prevalent depression is among caregivers, what is causing these depressive symptoms, and more importantly how those working in child care can work together to address the problem and foster nurturing relationships. In the short term, the study recommends providing stress-management classes and more specific guidelines on how to relate to children.

Source: Hamre, Bridget and Pianta, Robert (2004) Self-reported depression in non-familial caregivers: relevance and associations with caregiver behavior in child-care settings Early Childhood Research Quarterly 19:2, 297-318.

Facts in Action, October 2004