Reductions in stress and depressive symptoms in mothers of substance-exposed infants, participating in a psychosocial program.

OBJECTIVE: Depression profoundly impairs psychosocial functioning. Depression can have disruptive effects on a person's family, with significant impact on the psychosocial development of the children. Recent research suggests that a mother's depressive symptoms may increase parenting stress and that parenting stress may, in turn, increase depressive symptoms, with a possible negative cycle to this process. Little is known about how these two factors interact in drug-involved mothers. This study examines how the NEW CONNECTIONS intervention (a parental education and support program for drug-involved parents) acts on parental stress and symptoms of depression. METHODS: The study site was the NEW CONNECTIONS Infant Intervention Program. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) were administered to drug- and alcohol-involved mothers (N = 120) at baseline and after the intervention (Week 12). RESULTS: Four of the seven PSI domains of parenting stress showed a significant reduction (Demandingness, Competence, Isolation, and Role Restriction). Changes in four domains were significantly correlated with reductions in depressive symptoms (Competence, Isolation, Attachment, and Role Restriction). There was a significant reduction in depressive symptoms as measured by the BDI-II. CONCLUSION: Reduction in some aspects of parenting stress is associated with reduction in depressive symptoms in mothers of substance-exposed infants who participated in the NEW CONNECTIONS psychosocial intervention targeting the parent-child relationship.