Abstract
BackgroundPerinatal (antenatal and postpartum) depression impacts approximately 12% of mothers. Perinatal depression can impact everyday functioning for mothers, and the relationship with, and development of, their children. The purpose of this study was to investigate depression trajectories from the antenatal period through 54-months postpartum and associations with child body mass index at 54-months postpartum.MethodsThis study applied latent growth modeling to the Growing Up in New Zealand study, which is a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study that provides nationally representative-level data, to investigate associations between depression at three time points (antenatal, 9-months postpartum, 54-months postpartum) and child body mass index at 54-months (n=4897).ResultsThe average slope of depression for this sample is low and decreases over time. When child BMI was added to the model as an outcome variable, both antenatal depression (B=.25, p<.01), and the rate of change of depression across the perinatal and postpartum periods (B=.09, p<.01) were associated with child BMI at 54-months postpartum. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, antenatal depression, but not the slope of depression, remained significantly associated with child BMI (B=.05, p<.05). When controlling for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI the effect of antenatal depression on child BMI at 54-months was entirely attenuated (χ2 (9) = 39.60, p < .05, SRMR = 0.01, CFI = .99, RMSEA = 0.03, BIC=53213).ConclusionsOur findings align with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease theory and imply that both the physical and mental health of mothers during pregnancy may be important indicators of child growth and development outcomes. Early intervention directed towards women who have even mild depression scores during pregnancy may promote healthy child development outcomes. Additionally, given the heterogeneity of depressive symptoms over time seen in this study, multiple assessment periods across the postpartum period may be valuable to adequately address and support maternal mental health.
Highlights
IntroductionPerinatal depression (antenatal and postpartum) is defined symptomatically as exceeding a threshold on a screening measure, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [1]
Perinatal depression is defined symptomatically as exceeding a threshold on a screening measure, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [1]
The mean antenatal and 9-months postpartum depression score based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were 6.0 and 5.1, respectively; the average 54-months postpartum depression score based on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) was 3.5
Summary
Perinatal depression (antenatal and postpartum) is defined symptomatically as exceeding a threshold on a screening measure, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [1]. Mothers who suffer from persistent depression (antenatal and postpartum) are at particular risk for negative maternal and child health outcomes [4]. Chronic perinatal depression has been linked to poor social emotional development in early childhood [7]. Poor development and depression early in life can lead to disparities in physical, emotional and mental health outcomes throughout the life course [9]. Given the importance of childhood wellbeing throughout the life course, it is imperative to investigate the relationship between perinatal depression and its impact on early childhood development outcomes. Perinatal (antenatal and postpartum) depression impacts approximately 12% of mothers. The purpose of this study was to investigate depression trajectories from the antenatal period through 54-months postpartum and associations with child body mass index at 54-months postpartum
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
