Parental Depression and Associations with Parenting and Children’s Physical and Mental Health in a Sub-Saharan African Setting
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Child Psychiatry & Human Development
Abstract
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental
health challenges in low- and middle-income countries.
However, the mechanisms of parental depression on children’s
development are understudied in these countries.
This study examined the prevalence of parental depression,
contextual predictors of parental depression, and the
associations between parental depression, parenting and
children’s development in one of the Sub-Saharan African
countries-Uganda. Three hundred and three Ugandan parents
of young children were recruited and interviewed.
Results indicated that about 28 % of parents were depressed.
Contextual factors such as low educational attainment,
food insecurity, low social support, and high number of
children were associated with parental depression. Structural
equation modeling also indicated that Ugandan parents’
depression was associated with less optimal
parenting, and higher problem behavior, lower social
competence, and poorer physical health and school functioning
in children. Results provide several cross cultural
consistency evidence in associations among parental
depression, parenting, and child development.
Description
Keywords
Parental depression, Parenting, Child mental health, Uganda, Sub-Saharan Africa, Low- and middleincome country
Citation
Huang, K. Y., Abura, G., Theise, R., & Nakigudde, J. (2017). Parental depression and associations with parenting and children’s physical and mental health in a sub-Saharan African setting. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 48(4), 517-527. DOI 10.1007/s10578-016-0679-7