Abstract
BackgroundThe SARS-COVID-19 pandemic and its associated disease control restrictions have in multiple ways affected families with young children, who may be especially vulnerable to mental health problems. Studies report an increase in perinatal parental distress as well as symptoms of anxiety or depression in children during the pandemic. Currently, little is known about the impact of the pandemic on infants and their development. Infant regulatory problems (RPs) have been identified as early indicators of child socio-emotional development, strongly associated with maternal mental health and the early parent–infant interaction. Our study investigates whether early parenthood under COVID-19 is associated with more maternal depressive symptoms and with a perception of their infants as having more RPs regarding crying/fussing, sleeping, or eating, compared to mothers assessed before the pandemic.MethodsAs part of a longitudinal study, 65 women who had given birth during the first nationwide disease control restrictions in Northern Germany, were surveyed at 7 months postpartum and compared to 97 women assessed before the pandemic. RPs and on maternal depressive symptoms were assessed by maternal report. Number of previous children, infant negative emotionality, and perceived social support were assessed as control variables.ResultsCompared to the control cohort, infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic and those of mothers with higher depressive symptoms were perceived as having more sleeping and crying, but not more eating problems. Regression-based analyses showed no additional moderating effect of parenthood under COVID-19 on the association of depressive symptoms with RPs. Infant negative emotionality was positively, and number of previous children was negatively associated with RPs.LimitationsDue to the small sample size and cross-sectional assessment, the possibility for more complex multivariate analysis was limited. The use of parent-report questionnaires to assess infant RPs can support but not replace clinical diagnosis.ConclusionsThe pandemic conditions affecting everyday life may have a long-term influence on impaired infant self- and maternal co-regulation and on maternal mental health. This should be addressed in peripartum and pediatric care. Qualitative and longitudinal studies focusing on long-term parental and infant outcomes under ongoing pandemic conditions are encouraged.
Highlights
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had profound global effects on economy, healthcare systems, and societal structures (World Bank, 2020; Whitehead et al, 2021)
Our study aimed to assess both aspects, infant regulatory problems (RPs) regarding crying/fussing, eating, and sleeping, and maternal depressive symptoms in the context of parenthood under COVID-19 conditions, compared to a sample of mother–child dyads assessed before the worldwide outbreak of SARS-CoV-2
According to a previously reported association between maternal anxiety and infant RPs (Martini et al, 2017; Petzoldt, 2018) and considering the high rate of comorbidity between anxiety and depression (Falah-Hassani et al, 2017), we explored whether generalized anxiety had an individual effect beyond depressive symptoms on infant outcome
Summary
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had profound global effects on economy, healthcare systems, and societal structures (World Bank, 2020; Whitehead et al, 2021). Anxiety and depressive symptoms, reduced quality of life, and disrupted sleeping routines have been reported in children and adolescents living under pandemic-related restrictions (Crescentini et al, 2020; Jiao et al, 2020; Loades et al, 2020; Nearchou et al, 2020; MacKenzie et al, 2021; Ravens-Sieberer et al, 2021b). The SARS-COVID-19 pandemic and its associated disease control restrictions have in multiple ways affected families with young children, who may be especially vulnerable to mental health problems. Our study investigates whether early parenthood under COVID-19 is associated with more maternal depressive symptoms and with a perception of their infants as having more RPs regarding crying/fussing, sleeping, or eating, compared to mothers assessed before the pandemic
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