Home » Psychology news » Maternal depression across the first years of life impacts children’s neural basis of empathy
Maternal depression across the first years of life impacts children’s neural basis of empathy
January 3, 2017 by NewsBot
Exposure to early and chronic maternal depression markedly increases a child’s susceptibility to psychopathology and social-emotional problems, including social withdrawal, poor emotion regulation, and reduced empathy to others. Since 15-18% of women in industrial societies and up to 30% in developing countries suffer from maternal depression, it is of clinical and public health concern to understand the effects of maternal depression on children’s development.