Gaviria-Loaiza, Juana2018-11-142018-11-142018http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/23897The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of maternal depressive symptoms in maternal child-directed speech during play, as well as in toddlers’ language and socioemotional abilities. Specifically, the moderating role of depressive symptoms on the relation between maternal child-directed speech components (quantity and quality) and child outcomes was explored. The sample consisted of 108 mother-child dyads participating in an Early Head Start program in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Mothers completed a depression scale and a demographic questionnaire, and dyads were observed during a puzzle play task. Multiple regression analysis suggested that mothers’ depressive symptoms were associated with toddlers’ socioemotional abilities (internalizing and externalizing behaviors). Depression was not related to quantity or quality of maternal child-directed speech in the context of puzzle play, nor was it directly related to children’s language (communication abilities). Depression moderated the relation between maternal communicative diversity and children’s expressive communication. The findings highlight the importance of considering the unique features of the context of interaction as well as other non-verbal factors that may influence these relations. Implications and future directions are discussed.PsychologyEducationChild-directed-speechDepressionLanguageMothersSocioemotional developmentToddlersThesis10655225152018-10-17en