NCJ Number
237162
Journal
Social Work in Mental Health Volume: 9 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2011 Pages: 379-394
Date Published
October 2011
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the interplay between seropositive mothers' depression and their children's behavioral crises in school during the past academic school year in North Carolina.
Abstract
Data from 49 HIV/AIDS-infected mothers with 132 school-age children were used in this study to examine the interplay between seropositive mothers' depression and their children's behavioral crises in school during the past academic school year in North Carolina. In a logistic regression analysis, seropositive mothers' depression increased (B = .13, p = .004) the likelihood of a behavioral crisis. Externalizing problems were the likely precipitators of behavioral crises for both the perinatally HIV/AIDS-infected and seronegative children. These latter children were likely to initiate fistfights or throw objects with the intent to physically harm their classmates or teachers. The author found in a bivariate analysis that seropositive mothers' depression was positively (r = .32, p = .02) related to their children's externalizing problems in school. Implications for school social work practice with depressed seropositive mothers are discussed. (Published Abstract)