Maternal anxiety and depressive disorders prior to, during and after pregnancy and infant interaction behaviors during the Face-to-Face Still Face Paradigm at 4 months postpartum: A prospective-longitudinal study

Abstract

BackgroundFew studies prospectively examined the role of maternal anxiety and depressive disorders for early infant psychosocial stress responsivity. AimsTo investigate the role of lifetime maternal anxiety and depressive disorders for various early infant interaction behaviors during the Face-to-Face Still Face Paradigm (FFSFP) at 4 months postpartum. Study design/subjectsProspective-longitudinal study among n = 251 mothers (and their infants) from early pregnancy until 4 months postpartum. PredictorCumulated lifetime diagnoses of maternal anxiety and depressive disorders, repeatedly assessed with the CIDI-V from early pregnancy until 4 months postpartum. Outcome measuresInfant positive and negative facial expressions and vocalizations, distancing behavior, self- and object-touch, observed during the FFSFP at 4 months postpartum. ResultsAs indicated by fractional logit models, higher proportions of object-touch were seen among infants of mothers with anxiety only (still face: 7.8%) and comorbid anxiety and depression (still face: 7.9%; reunion: 2.9%) vs. no anxiety and no depression. Higher proportion changes in object-touch were found among infants of mothers with anxiety only (play to still face: 6.4%) and comorbid anxiety and depression (play to still face: 7.2%; play to reunion: 2.7%) vs. no anxiety and no depression. Higher proportion changes in distancing behavior were seen among infants of mothers with comorbid anxiety and depression (still face to reunion: 1.1%; play to reunion: 1.3%) vs. no anxiety and no depression. ConclusionsParticularly mothers with anxiety only and comorbid anxiety and depression and their infants might profit from targeted early interventions to foster favorable interaction behaviors in early infancy and thereafter.