Abstract
Sleep problems are associated with increased risk of physical and mental illness. Identifying risk factors is an important method of reducing public health impact. We examined the association between maternal postnatal depression (PND) and offspring adolescent sleep problems. The sample was derived from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) participants. A sample with complete data across all variables was used, with four outcome variables. A sensitivity analysis imputing for missing data was conducted (n = 9633). PND was associated with increased risk of sleep problems in offspring at ages 16 and 18 years. The most robust effects were sleep problems at 18 years [adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a 1 s.d. increase in PND, 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.39, p < 0.001] and waking more often (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.25, p = 0.003). This remained after controlling for confounding variables including antenatal depression and early sleep problems in infancy. PND is associated with adolescent offspring sleep problems. Maternal interventions should consider the child's increased risk. Early sleep screening and interventions could be introduced within this group.
Highlights
Sleep disturbances and disorders are very common and affect 10–56% of the global population (Stoller, 1994; Chilcott & Shapiro, 1996; Partinen & Hublin, 2005; Leger et al 2008)
Of offspring of re-currently depressed mothers, 36% reported sleep problems at 18 years, compared with only 22% of offspring of non-depressed mothers
Our findings are in line with evidence from a study of adolescent girls, reporting poorer sleep quality (measured subjectively) in girls whose mothers experienced at least two episodes of depression during their daughter’s lifetime compared with controls (Chen et al 2012)
Summary
Sleep disturbances and disorders are very common and affect 10–56% of the global population (Stoller, 1994; Chilcott & Shapiro, 1996; Partinen & Hublin, 2005; Leger et al 2008). Shorter sleep duration is associated with common illness, and increases the risk of high blood pressure and other cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents (Azadbakht et al 2013; Panciencia et al 2013; Orzech et al 2014). This may be linked with evidence showing that sleep-deprived adolescents make less-healthy food choices (Kruger et al 2014). Poor sleep quality may co-occur with these disorders or may precede them and be a contributing factor (Wong & Brower, 2012; Sarchiapone et al 2014). We examined the association between maternal postnatal depression (PND) and offspring adolescent sleep problems
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
