Parental depressive symptoms and parent-infant interactive synchrony: An actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

Abstract

We investigated the influence of parental depressive symptoms on interactive synchrony, an indicator of parent-infant interaction quality. Although research has shown the negative impact of maternal depressive symptoms-both prenatal and postnatal-on interactive synchrony, little is known about the impact of paternal depressive symptoms, particularly prenatal ones. From a family systems perspective, parental mental health is interdependent, with one parent's symptoms often associated with their partner's. However, it has not been investigated whether prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms in one parent are associated with their partner's interactive synchrony with the infant. We hypothesized that higher prenatal depressive symptoms reported by both parents would be associated with reduced interactive synchrony in their own (actor effects) and in their partner's (partner effects; no directional hypothesis was specified based on previous findings) interactions with the infant. We also hypothesized postnatal depressive symptoms as mediators of target associations. Using an actor-partner interdependence mediation model, we analyzed data from 86 families. Both parents reported their symptoms at 36-38 weeks of pregnancy and 3-4 months after birth. Interactive synchrony was observed during a lab visit at the postnatal assessment. For mothers only, we found significant actor effects between higher prenatal symptoms and reduced interactive synchrony. No partner effects emerged nor did postnatal symptoms play a mediator role. A total effect from paternal prenatal symptoms to mother-infant interactive synchrony emerged. These findings highlight the importance of both parents in research on interactive synchrony to improve the understanding of reciprocal influences within the family. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).