Investigation of depressive symptoms in children with selective mutism and the maternal containing functions, attachment styles, and temperament characteristics

In this study, the depressive symptoms of children with a diagnosis of Selective Mutism (SM) between the ages of 3-7, and the maternal functions of inclusiveness, attachment styles, and temperamental features were evaluated. 30 children with SM diagnosis, 30 children with no psychiatric diagnosis, and all the mothers of the children were included in the study. The Child Depression Inventory, Parent-Child Containing Function Scale, Adult Attachment Style Scale and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego were used as data collection tools. In binary comparisons of the obtained data, T test was applied for sub-dimensions with normal distribution and Mann-Whitney U test was applied for sub-dimensions without normal distribution. To examine the relationship between the depressive symptoms of SM children and the inclusiveness function, attachment style, and temperamental features of their mothers, Pearson Correlation Analysis was applied for sub-dimensions with normal distribution and Spearman Correlation Analysis was applied for sub-dimensions without normal distribution. As a result of the study, it was found that the inclusiveness function deficiency in mothers of SM children, and the levels of avoidant attachment and anxious/ambivalent attachment, as well as the depressive and anxious temperamental features, were significantly higher in the control group mothers compared to the SM children. Significant relationships were found between the depressive symptoms of SM children and the maternal psychological variables.