Caregivers’ Depressive Symptoms And Parent-Report Of Child Executive Function Among Young Children In Uganda

Abstract
Maternal mental health (particularly depression) may influence how child behavior report. Few research has focused on sub-Saharan countries where pediatric HIV concentrates and impacts child neuropsychological development and caregiver mental health. We investigated the associations between caregivers' depressive symptoms and neuropsychological outcomes in HIV-infected (n=118) and HIV-exposed (n=164) Ugandan children aged 2–5years. We compared performance-based tests of development (Mullen Scales of Early Learning, Color Object Association Test), to a caregiver report of executive function (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, BRIEF). Caregivers were assessed with Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 depression subscale. The associations between all BRIEF indices and caregiver's depression symptoms were differential according to child's HIV status. Caregivers with greater depressive symptoms reported their HIV-infected children as having more behavioral problems related to executive functioning. The assessment of behavior of HIV-infected children should incorporate a variety of sources of information and screening of caregiver mental health.
Description
Keywords
HIV/AIDS; Neuropsychological assessment; Children; Development; Depression
Citation
Familiar, I., Nakasujja, N., Bass, J., Sikorskii, A., Murray, S. M., Ruisenor-Escudero, H., ... & Boivin, M. J. (2016). Caregivers' depressive symptoms and parent-report of child executive function among young children in Uganda. Learning and individual differences, 46, 17-24.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2015.01.012