ABSTRACT

Maternal mental illness poses several challenges for children, particularly if combined with psychosocial stressors such as poverty, marital stress or family conflict, and single parenthood (Goodman et al., 2011; Oyserman, Mowbray, Meares, & Firminger, 2000). While children whose mothers struggle with mental illness may be more likely to struggle with emotional difficulties, research also suggests that these challenges may be tempered by protective factors that contribute to their resilience (Cummings & Davies, 1999; Mowbray, Bybee, Oyserman, Allen-Meares, MacFarlane, & Hart-Johnson, 2004). These protective factors include resources and social supports, as well as the quality of the mother–child interaction. Mowbray and colleagues (1995) further suggest that parenting may have a motivating effect for mothers with mental illness to remain in treatment, as the role of motherhood itself may serve as primary outlet for care and concern, and affirm a valued and normative social role.