The link between ACEs, income, and maternal depressive symptoms through a racial and ethnic lens: A moderated-mediation analysis

Maternal depression is a prevalent psychological concern that affects all racial and ethnic groups. Prior research suggests adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are an important social determinant of depression; however, few studies have examined the roles that income and race/ethnicity play in this relationship. Using a life-course perspective, this article examined whether adult family income mediated the relationship between ACEs and adult depressive symptoms among 3,106 mothers from the prospective Geographic Research of Wellbeing survey. We also examined whether race/ethnicity/immigration status moderated the relationships between ACEs, income, and symptoms. We used both mediation and moderated mediation to conduct secondary data analysis. Income significantly mediated the relationship between ACEs and depressive symptoms (b = 0.012, p = .012). The relationship between ACES and depressive symptoms was stronger among immigrant Latina participants (b = 0.25, p< .001) compared to non-Latina White participants (b = 0.12, p< .001). Practitioners should consider the role of income as a social determinant of maternal depression, promote policies that decrease income inequality, and further examine how race/ethnicity impacts the relationship between childhood adversity and maternal mental health.