---
title: "Psych News Alert: Child Care Could Help Shield Children From Effects of Maternal Depression"
description: "Not long ago, a little boy, referred to as \"Nate,\" only smiled when he was in group child care. It was probably not surprising, a ..."
image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/children%20holding%20hands_9239815-Jun-24-2025-06-34-03-3283-PM.jpg
---

 7/1/13 12:00 AM

# Child Care Could Help Shield Children From Effects of Maternal Depression

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert)

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Not long ago, a little boy, referred to as "Nate," only smiled when he was in group child care. It was probably not surprising, a new population-based, longitudinal study suggests. Nate's mother was seriously depressed, and this new study has shown that if young children of depressed mothers are placed in early group child care, they have significantly fewer emotional and social problems than children of depressed mothers who are not placed in such care.

The study was headed by Catherine Herba, Ph.D., of the University of Quebec and published in *[JAMA Psychiatry](http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1698780). "*Given that most of today's children experience child care during the preschool years, child care could potentially serve as a public health intervention strategy for high-risk children," the researchers suggested.

However, the positive impact exerted by group child care could not be found when children were cared for by a relative or babysitter. This may be because group child care includes a more-structured setting, care is provided by a trained professional, and the child is being exposed to other children of a similar age, the researchers said.

To read more about issues pertinent to maternal depression, see *Psychiatric News * [here](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=1484655)  and [here](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=1685433). Also see the American Journal of Psychiatry [here](http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=1669748).

(Image: Pavel L Photo and Video/Shutterstock.com)

[maternal depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/maternal-depression), [child mental health](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/child-mental-health)

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[anxiety](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/anxiety), [meta-analysis](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/meta-analysis), [maternal depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/maternal-depression), [JAACAP](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jaacap), [Sheri Madigan](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/sheri-madigan), [child social and emotional development](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/child-social-and-emotional-development)

## [Maternal Prenatal Depression, Anxiety Affects Child Development, Particularly in Poorer Families](https://alert.psychnews.org/2018/07/maternal-prenatal-depression-anxiety.html)

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 6/24/24 11:16 AM

Children of mothers who experienced depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy are more likely to...

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[stress](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/stress), [maternal depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/maternal-depression), [Depression and Anxiety](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression-and-anxiety), [cortisol](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cortisol), [immune system](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/immune-system)

## [Maternal Depression Impairs Immune System, Stress Response of Children, Study Suggests](https://alert.psychnews.org/2018/08/maternal-depression-impairs-immune.html)

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 

 8/22/18 12:00 AM

Numerous studies have shown that maternal depression can create significant challenges for...

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[paternal depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/paternal-depression), [parental depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/parental-depression), [child mental health](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/child-mental-health), [father](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/father)

## [Children Are Affected by Depressed Dads](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/11/children-are-affected-by-depressed-dads.html)

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 11/10/11 12:00 AM

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