The Influence of Depressive Symptoms on Parenting: Examining Longitudinal Dyadic Spillover and Crossover Processes During the Transition to Parenthood

Abstract

Limited research exists on dyadic spillover and crossover processes in parenting when depressive symptoms occur. This study examined both direct actor and partner effects from parents’ prenatal depressive symptoms to parenting 19 months postpartum and effects mediated via the parent’s own depressive symptoms 10 months postpartum. The Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was applied to a sample of 534 couples participating in a randomized controlled trial of a universal parenting support program. For both parents, direct and mediated actor effects were found from depressive symptoms to own parental stress and attachment at 19 months postpartum. For fathers, but not mothers, direct and mediated actor effects were also seen for own postnatal childcare involvement although in mixed directions. Direct partner effects were not indicated across gender, however mediated partner effects appeared from mothers’ depressive symptoms to fathers’ later parental stress and attachment-related feelings, but not vice versa. Findings highlight the importance of a dyadic approach to examine depressive symptoms and parenting processes during the transition to parenthood.