Several decades of research have established a consistent relationship between exposure to maternal depression and adverse children’s outcomes across developmental status and gender of the child. However, much less is known about the mechanisms underlying this association, the relatively contribution of genetic versus environmental influence, and the lasting consequences of early exposure on adolescent and young adult outcomes. Using four divergent data sets, the current talk will explore the environmental contributions of maternal depressive symptoms on early childhood outcomes using a genetically-informed design, the potential mediating contribution of maternal caregiving among offspring of childhood-onset depressed mothers, the long-term consequences of early exposure to depression on aggression and brain functioning, and how reducing maternal depressive symptoms in early childhood is longitudinally linked to improvements in children’s conduct and emotional problems. Findings will be discussed in relation to the findings’ implications for basic research, prevention and early intervention, and social policy.

Reception to follow in 4125 Sennott Square