Maternal depression and parental distress among families in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Risk factors within the family setting.

This study examined the influence of risk factors within the family environment (inadequate resources, insufficient caregiving support from child's father, higher family conflict) on maternal well being (depression and parental distress) using a longitudinal panel research design. Participants consisted of 2,040 low-income mothers of young children enrolled in the Early Head Start (EHS) Research and Evaluation Project. Findings indicated that greater family resources at 14 months had a protective effect on maternal well-being at 36 months, controlling for demographic variables and maternal well-being at 14 months.