Work

The Home Learning Environment as a Mediator of the Impact of Parental Psychological Distress on Child Development

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Research on the well-established association between maternal mental health problems and poorer child outcomes has focused on negative parenting behaviour and overlooked psychosocial stimulation as a potential mediating mechanism. Additionally, whether the same association exists for fathers has been understudied. Methods: We addressed these gaps using data from the nationally representative UK-based Millennium Cohort Study, including n = 15,623 children and their mothers (n = 14,922) and fathers (n = 12,408). Parental mental health and the home learning environment (HLE) were measured using the parent-reported Rutter Malaise Inventory at 9 months of age and the HLE Index at age 3, respectively. At 5 years of age, socio-emotional functioning was measured using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and cognitive and language abilities were assessed directly using British Ability Scales subtests. Results: Structural equation modelling indicated that the HLE significantly mediated the negative associations between PMH and children’s cognitive abilities (mother: β = −0.01, 95% CI [−0.01, −0.01], p < 0.001; father: β = −0.004, 95% CI [−0.008, −0.001], p = 0.025), socio-emotional functioning (mother: β = −0.01, 95% CI [−0.01, −0.01], p < 0.001; father, β = −0.004, 95% CI [−0.007, −0.001], p = 0.022), and language skills (mother: β = −0.01, 95% CI [−0.01, −0.01], p < 0.001; father: β = −0.005, 95% CI [−0.010, −0.001], p = 0.020). Conclusions: These findings support our hypotheses, with stronger associations identified for mothers than for fathers. The findings suggest that further research is needed on the impact of positive parenting, including the home learning environment, in the context of parental depression, using measurement instruments that provide insight in the quality of positive parenting.

Source: Children

DOI: 10.3390/children13050582

Authors: Marie-Louise (Jessica) A. J. van de Grint-Stoop, Laurel A. Fish, Chloe Austerberry, Marialivia Bernardi, R. M. Pasco Fearon

Institutions: University of Cambridge, University College London

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896