Maternal Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disability

Maternal mental health and offspring's IQ: Evidence from two Brazilian birth cohorts

Maternal mental health during different stages of life can have a significant impact on a child's cognitive development. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal CMD at two distinct stages of the offspring's life (at 3 months and 11 years) and their IQ scores at 6 and 18 years across two birth cohorts. The study utilized data from two Brazilian birth cohorts: the 1993 cohort (full sample: N = 3719, subsample: N = 436), and the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort (N = 3440). IQ assessments were conducted at ages 18 and 6, employing the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, third version (WAIS-III), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, third version (WISC-III), respectively. The presence of maternal CMD at 3 months and 11 years of age was evaluated using the Brazilian version of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). After adjustment, participants whose mothers experienced CMD at 3 months had average IQ scores 1.74 (95 % CI: -2.83 to -0.67) and 2.79 (95 % CI: -5.54 to -0.04) points lower at ages 6 (2004 cohort) and 18 (1993 cohort subsample), respectively. Furthermore, in the 1993 cohort (both full and subsample), maternal CMD at 11 years was associated with lower IQ scores at age 18. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this association, emphasized by these findings, is crucial for promoting children's cognitive development, educational achievement, and overall well-being.

Validity and Reliability of the Life Transition Scale in Parents of Disabled Children Across the Life Transition Process

Purpose

The Life Transition Scale (LTS) consists of 24 items that assess the life transition process of parents of autistic children. This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the LTS in parents of children with a wide spectrum of disabilities.

Methods

Data were collected from 260 parents of children with disabilities through self-report questionnaires. Validity was examined using exploratory and confirmative factor analysis to determine the factor structures of the LTS; socio-demographic differences in LTS scores were examined using the t-test or ANOVA. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient.

Results

A four-factor structure was validated (x²=640.0, p<.001, GFI=.81, RMSEA=.07, NNFI=.89, CFI=.89, PNFI=.74, Q [x²/df]=2.60). The validity of the LTS was verified by exploratory factor analysis, with factor loading ranging from .30 to .80. There were significant differences in the accepting phase according to children's and parents' age and the type of disability, and in the wandering phase according to parental gender, educational level, job, and socioeconomic status. The Cronbach's ⍺s for the reliability of each of the four structures were acceptable, within a range of .80~.90.

Conclusion

The LTS is a valid and reliable measurement to assess the life transition process of parents with disabled children.