Associations Among Interparental Violence, Maternal Depression and Behavioural Difficulties in Preschool-Aged Children in Jamaica.

Publication date: Oct 01, 2026

To spotlight women’s and children’s mental health needs and human rights issues around interparental violence in Caribbean families, this study examined the mediating function of maternal depressive symptoms on associations between interparental violence and children’s anxiety/depression, antisocial behaviours, and peer problems. Participants included 152 mothers and their preschool-aged children residing in the Kingston area of Jamaica. Interparental violence had direct associations with children’s antisocial behaviours and peer problems. Maternal depressive symptoms partially mediated the association between interparental violence and child anxiety/depression. Findings point to the importance of considering both interparental violence and maternal depression together in addressing children’s mental health difficulties in the broader Caribbean region.

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Original Article