Investigators at California State University Long Beach Discuss Findings in Psychology and Psychiatry (Developmental Trajectories of Internalizing Distress Among Ethnic Minoritized Mothers Following Childbirth: Associations With Early Child...).

A study conducted at California State University Long Beach examined the impact of mothers' internalizing distress on their children's socioemotional development. The study focused on Mexican immigrant, Dominican immigrant, and African American mothers and their children over a six-year period following childbirth. The findings revealed two distinct classes of distress among the mothers, with children of mothers in the moderate distress class showing greater internalizing, externalizing, and hyperactivity behaviors in the first grade compared to children of mothers in the low distress class. The study emphasizes the importance of supporting the mental health of ethnic minoritized mothers after childbirth to promote healthy psychological adjustment in children. [Extracted from the article]