Prenatal Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Coparenting conflict moderates the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and infant regulatory capacity

AbstractAs a development‐enhancing or a risk‐promoting environment, coparenting may shape the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and infant regulatory capacity. This study aimed to analyse the moderator role of coparenting cooperation and conflict in the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and infant regulatory capacity at 3 months. The sample comprised 103 primiparous couples (N = 206 parents) and their 3‐month‐old infants (53.7% female). Mothers reported on depressive symptoms at the first trimester of pregnancy, and both parents reported on coparenting, and infant regulatory capacity at 2 weeks and 3 months postpartum. Higher levels of maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and higher levels of coparenting conflict reported by parents at 2 weeks postpartum were associated with lower infant regulatory capacity at 3 months. Coparenting conflict at 2 weeks postpartum accentuated the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and infant regulatory capacity at 3 months. The results support a view of coparenting conflict as a risk‐promoting environment that can accentuate the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and infant regulatory capacity. Infants in families with mothers with elevated prenatal depressive symptoms and with high levels of coparenting conflict may be at high risk of low regulatory capacity.

Maternal depressive symptoms in and beyond the perinatal period: Associations with infant and preschooler sleep.

(1) To describe sleep in infancy and early childhood among children born to mothers with and without clinically significant depressive symptoms, and (2) to explore the relationships between maternal depressive symptoms and sleep patterns and problems during infancy and early childhood. Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Moe Kura: Mother and Child, Sleep and Wellbeing in Aotearoa/New Zealand study. Data was collected in pregnancy (T1), 12 weeks postpartum (T2), and 3 years post-birth (T3). Participants were 262 Māori and 594 non-Māori mother-child dyads. Chi-square and Independent T-tests measured bivariate associations between maternal mood (T1, T2, T3) and child sleep characteristics (T2, T3). Binary logistic regression models examined longitudinal and concurrent associations between maternal depressive symptoms and infant and preschooler sleep. Adjusted models accounted for key socio-demographic variables, as well as infant sleep variables in preschooler models. Bivariate associations were found between prior and concurrent depressive symptomology and many of the infant and preschooler sleep outcomes. In adjusted models, prenatal depressive symptoms remained independently associated with shorter-than-recommended sleep durations in preschoolers. In these models, concurrent depression was also associated with night waking, night LSRSP, and perceived sleep problems at 12 weeks postpartum, and CSHQ-determined and perceived sleep problems at 3 years post birth. Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations were found between maternal depressive symptoms and child sleep. Sleep appears to be one pathway by which maternal depression confers risk for suboptimal child health outcomes. Findings support the need for earlier and better maternal mental health services.

Experiences with discrimination during pregnancy in Canada and associations with depression and anxiety symptoms.

Experiences of discrimination reported during pregnancy are common and are associated with poor mental health and adverse birth outcomes. No Canadian studies have investigated interpersonal discrimination during pregnancy. This study aimed to quantify and identify lived-experiences of discrimination in a Canadian cohort of pregnant individuals, and examine associations with concurrent prenatal anxiety and depression symptoms. Pregnant individuals from the pan-Canadian Pregnancy During the Pandemic (PdP) study (n = 1943) completed the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS), demographic measures and self-report measures of depression and anxiety symptoms. Descriptive statistics and ANCOVA were used to assess prevalence of discrimination and associated mental health outcomes. Open-text responses (n = 189) to a question investigating reasons for discrimination were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Approximately three quarters (72%) of pregnant individuals experienced at least one instance of discrimination during their pregnancy or within the year prior. Pregnant individuals experiencing more frequent and/or more types of discrimination were more likely to identify as non-white, not be partnered, have lower socioeconomic status, and have a pre-pregnancy history of anxiety and depression. The most common attributions for interpersonal discrimination were gender, age, and education/income level. Pregnant individuals who experienced more frequent discrimination and/or more types of discrimination were more likely to report clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety (n = 623; 35.2% and 49.1%, respectively) compared to those who reported no discrimination (n = 539; 11.5% and 19.1%, respectively). Conventional content analysis of open-text responses generated the following main themes: (1) personal attributes and sociodemographic characteristics, (2) occupation, (3) the COVID-19 pandemic, (4) pregnancy and parenting, and (5) causes outside the self. Frequent discrimination was associated with more adverse concurrent mental health symptoms. Understanding experiences of discrimination can inform interventions that better address the needs of pregnant individuals and their infants.

Associations between dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, and prenatal depression symptoms among couples with gestational diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT Aims/Background Coping with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) presents significant challenges for pregnant women and their partners, which may result in elevated prenatal depression symptoms. However, research has predominantly centred on pregnant women with GDM, with little involvement of their partners. To understand their dyadic interactions, it is imperative to involve GDM couples in the study. This study aims to examine the interplay between dyadic coping and prenatal depression symptoms among GDM couples and to explore the possible mediating role of marital satisfaction. Design/Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China. A total of 400 couples completed the Dyadic Coping Inventory, Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and sociodemographic data sheet. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was utilised for dyadic data analysis. Results Overall, 13.0% of pregnant women with GDM and 8.3% of partners experienced elevated prenatal depression symptoms. Dyadic coping was directly or indirectly related to their own and partners’ prenatal depression symptoms in GDM couples, with marital satisfaction acting as a mediator. Specifically, positive dyadic coping was associated with lower prenatal depression symptoms, while negative dyadic coping exhibited an opposite relationship. Conclusion The prevalence of elevated prenatal depression symptoms was high in GDM couples. It is important to view pregnant women with GDM and their partners as a dyad of a transactional system in prenatal clinical care. Couple-centred interventions targeting to enhance positive dyadic coping and mitigate negative dyadic coping might be beneficial to prevent and alleviate prenatal depression symptoms.

A Mixed Methods Longitudinal Investigation of Maternal Depression Across the Perinatal Period Among Mothers Who Gave Birth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundDepression during the perinatal period is associated with negative outcomes for both mothers and children, including higher rates of chronic depression in mothers and physical, emotional, and cognitive issues in children. This study aimed to determine how the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms among a sample of peripartum mothers who gave birth during the pandemic. This study also examined risk factors for postpartum depression, including prenatal depressive symptoms, demographic characteristics, timing of birth during the pandemic, pregnancy intention, birth expectations and experiences, and pandemic-related concerns. MethodsThis mixed methods study included data from online surveys using a convenience sample of 284 expectant mothers with due dates from April 2020 to September 2021, and qualitative interviews with a subset of participants. Depressive symptoms and risk for clinical depression were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the third trimester of pregnancy and again within 8 weeks postpartum. Multiple regression models examined potential risk factors to determine which variables most predicted participants’ postpartum depressive symptoms and risk of clinical depression. ResultsAmong this nonrepresentative, mostly white, and highly resourced sample, one-third of participants (33.8%) met the criteria for risk of clinical depression during the prenatal period, and 32.7% met this threshold in the postpartum period. Participants who reported higher levels of prenatal depressive symptoms, gave birth earlier in the pandemic, reported lower income, or had more pandemic-related concerns tended to report more postpartum depressive symptoms, adjusting for demographic characteristics and other variables of interest. Peripartum mothers who reported symptoms consistent with risk of clinical depression prenatally were almost four times more likely to screen positive for depression in the postpartum period, even after adjusting for other variables. In interviews, participants attributed negative emotions in pregnancy to uncertainty related to pandemic-related changes in care and expressed grief about missed pregnancy and postpartum experiences. In the postpartum period, some participants reported that their births were ultimately less stressful than anticipated. ConclusionsFindings highlight the need for consistent and frequent depression screenings across the perinatal period, especially among participants who report depressive symptoms prenatally. Participants who gave birth early in the pandemic were at the highest risk of postpartum depression and may continue to need additional supports.

Perceived stress and prenatal depression symptoms among couples with gestational diabetes mellitus: The mediating role of dyadic coping

ProblemNo studies have been conducted to examine the relationships between perceived stress, positive/negative dyadic coping, and prenatal depression symptoms in Chinese couples with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). BackgroundGDM is a stressful event for pregnant women and their partners, which may result in clinically significant prenatal depression symptoms in couples. AimThis study aims to examine the relationships and differences in perceived stress, positive/negative dyadic coping, and prenatal depression symptoms between Chinese pregnant women with GDM and their partners and to explore the mediating role of positive/negative dyadic coping. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, from January to October 2021. 402 pairs of GDM couples completed the questionnaires, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Chinese version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Dyadic data was analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. Findings37.6 % of pregnant women with GDM and 24.6 % of their partners experienced clinically significant prenatal depression symptoms. Depression symptoms in couples mutually influence each other. Perceived stress was directly or indirectly related to their and partners’ prenatal depression symptoms in GDM couples, with negative dyadic coping acting as a mediator. Maternal negative dyadic coping was also a partner-mediator. DiscussionThe findings of the present study may provide healthcare professionals with a better understanding of the effect of the interpersonal interaction between the couples as a dyad on prenatal depression symptoms in Chinese context. ConclusionThere were intrapersonal and interpersonal associations among perceived stress, negative dyadic coping, and prenatal depression symptoms in pregnant women with GDM and their partners. It suggests a need for screening clinically significant prenatal depression symptoms and decreasing perceived stress and negative dyadic coping among couples with GDM with a focus on pregnant women with GDM.

Longitudinal associations between prenatal internalizing symptoms and mindfulness traits with postnatal bonding difficulties.

Mothers' reported connection, or bond, with their infants develops across the early postnatal period and is relevant to mother and offspring functioning. Little is known, however, about early predictors of bonding difficulties over time. The present study examined prenatal anxiety, depressive symptoms, and trait mindfulness and variation in bonding difficulties in mothers across the first two months postnatal. Participants were 120 pregnant women (Mage=31.09 years, SD = 4.81; 80% White). Measures of anxiety, depression, and five facets of mindfulness were administered mid-pregnancy (approximately 20 weeks gestation) and bonding difficulties were assessed every two weeks from approximately 1 to 7 weeks postnatal. Using multilevel modeling to account for within-person repeated assessments, we found an inverted U-shaped pattern across time such that bonding difficulties initially worsened before improving around five weeks postnatal. Prenatal anxiety and depressive symptoms were longitudinally associated with greater bonding difficulties overall and were unrelated to the trajectory of change. The mindfulness facets of acting with awareness and being nonjudging of one's own experience were longitudinally associated with less bonding difficulties overall, weaker initial increases in bonding difficulties, and earlier improvements. Prenatal anxiety and depression may be risk factors for bonding difficulties that are persistent across the early postnatal period. In contrast, mindfulness tendencies before childbirth, specifically acting with awareness and being nonjudging towards oneself, may support early feelings of bonding over time.

Personality vulnerability to depression, resilience, and depressive symptoms: epigenetic markers among perinatal women.

We examined differences in DNA methylation patterns in the NR3C1 and FKBP5 genes in relation to personality vulnerability to depression, resilience, and perinatal depressive symptoms, whilst also considering possible moderating effects of childhood traumatic events. N = 160 perinatal women were assessed at late pregnancy and 1 year postpartum for personality vulnerability to depression, resilience, depressive symptoms, and childhood traumatic events with self-reported questionnaires. NR3C1 and FKBP5 methylation markers were analyzed via sodium bisulfite sequencing. Associations of methylation markers with the above mentioned variables were tested using multivariable regressions. NR3C1 methylation at CpGs 1, 4 and average methylation sites were negatively associated with resilience; NR3C1 methylation at CpG 2 was positively associated with postpartum depressive symptoms; methylation at CpG 4 was positively associated with prenatal depressive symptoms. The interaction between current distress due to interpersonal traumatic events and NR3C1 CpG sites in relation to personality vulnerability was significant on CpG sites 3 and 4, whereas the interaction between current distress due to total traumatic events and NR3C1 in relation to personality vulnerability was significant on CpG site 2. FKBP5 showed no significant associations with the outcomes. This study identified associations between NR3C1 methylation and resilience as well as perinatal depressive symptoms. Interestingly, an interaction between early trauma and personality vulnerability was noted. Our findings on these specific DNA methylation markers may, if replicated and integrated into risk prediction models, contribute to early diagnosis of mothers at risk, targeted health promotion, and early interventions.

Maternal symptoms of prenatal depression predict context-incongruent negative emotion in infants.

Prenatal symptoms of depression in mothers are associated with infants' emotional reactivity. Context-incongruent reactivity, comprising mismatches between the eliciting context and emotional reactions, predicts negative long-term socioemotional outcomes in children. However, the etiology of context-incongruent reactivity is largely unknown, obscuring a full understanding of its potential role as a vulnerability in models outlining the transmission of risk for emotion difficulties from mothers to offspring. We tested mothers' (N = 92) prenatal depressive symptoms as prospective predictors of infants' context-incongruent emotion. Greater prenatal symptoms predicted more context-incongruent negativity in infants even when controlling for context-congruent affect. Findings demonstrate a novel utility of context-incongruent emotion as one possible vulnerability linking mothers' prenatal depression to socioemotional difficulties in offspring. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A replication and extension of adverse and benevolent childhood experiences along with contemporaneous social support and sociodemographic stress for perinatal mental health problems.

This study replicated and extended Narayan and colleagues' (2018) original benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) study. We examined associations between adverse and positive childhood experiences and mental health problems in a second sample of low-income, ethnically diverse pregnant individuals (replication). We also examined effects of childhood experiences on perinatal mental health problems while accounting for contemporaneous support and stress (extension). Participants were 175 pregnant individuals (M = 28.07 years, SD = 5.68, range = 18-40; 38.9% White, 25.7% Latina, 16.6% Black, 12.0% biracial/multiracial, 6.8% other) who completed standardized instruments on BCEs, childhood maltreatment and exposure to family dysfunction, sociodemographic stress, and perinatal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. They completed the Five-Minute Speech Sample at pregnancy and postpartum to assess social support from the other biological parent. Higher family dysfunction predicted higher prenatal depression symptoms, while higher BCEs and prenatal social support predicted lower prenatal PTSD symptoms. Prenatal depression and prenatal PTSD symptoms were the most robust predictors of postnatal depression and PTSD symptoms, respectively, although higher postnatal social support also predicted lower postnatal PTSD symptoms. Findings replicated many patterns found in the original BCEs study and indicated that contemporaneous experiences are also associated with perinatal mental health problems.

Pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity moderates the association between prenatal maternal depressive symptoms and infant cord blood omega-3 levels

BackgroundEmpirical evidence has demonstrated associations between pre-pregnancy obesity and perinatal maternal depressive symptoms. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid derived from dietary sources that is critical for fetal brain development. Pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with higher omega-3 intake, but a weaker association between dietary intake and respective maternal and cord blood omega-3 levels. Further, lower intake of omega-3 during pregnancy has been linked to higher depressive symptoms. Yet, prior studies have not examined the interactive effects of pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity (OWOB) and prenatal maternal mental health symptoms on infant cord blood omega-3 levels.MethodsParticipants included 394 maternal-infant dyads from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) - Safe Passage Study in South Dakota. A pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) > 25 was used to dichotomize participants as OWOB (54%) vs. non-OWOB (46%). Prenatal maternal depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and prenatal maternal anxiety symptoms were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). We implemented linear regression models to examine the interaction term between pre-pregnancy BMI category and prenatal maternal mental health symptoms on cord blood omega-3 levels. Secondary analyses were stratified by pre-pregnancy BMI category.ResultsWe observed a significant interaction between pre-pregnancy BMI category and prenatal maternal depressive symptoms with cord blood omega-3 (F(4,379) = 6.21, p < .0001, adj. R2 = 0.05). Stratified models revealed an association between prenatal maternal depressive symptoms with lower cord blood omega-3 levels only among individuals with pre-pregnancy OWOB (β = -0.06, 95% CI = -0.11, -0.02; F (2,208) = 4.00, p < .05, adj R2 = 0.03). No associations were observed among non-OWOB participants.ConclusionsFindings suggest maternal-placental transfer of omega-3 may represent one pathway by which maternal metabolic and mental health impacts infant development.

Maternal pre-pregnancy diet and prenatal depression: the mediating role of pre-pregnancy weight status and prenatal inflammation.

Depression is a common prenatal psychological complication. We aimed to investigate if maternal pre-pregnancy diet can impact prenatal depressive symptoms and the mediating role of pre-pregnancy BMI and inflammation. We used data (N 1141) from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition cohort study. We calculated Mediterranean diet adherence (MED) and dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores using data from pre-pregnancy FFQ. In the third-trimester, we assessed depressive symptoms using Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and inflammation through serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. BMI was calculated from self-reported pre-pregnancy weight. Race-stratified analyses (white and people of colour) were run. We observed no association between MED or DII tertiles and depressive symptoms. However, white participants in the MED tertile-3 had lower risk of depression (EPDS < 10) compared with tertile-1 (OR = 0·56, 95 % CI, 0·33, 0·95). White individuals in MED tertile-3 had lower BMI (MD = -1·08; 95 % CI, -1·77, -0·39) and CRP (MD = -0·53; 95 % CI, -0·95, -0·11) than tertile-1, and those in DII tertile-2 (MD = 0·44; 95 % CI, 0·03, 0·84) and tertile-3 (MD = 0·42; 95 % CI, 0·01, 0·83) had higher CRP than tertile-1. Among people of colour, neither MED nor DII was associated with BMI or CRP, but BMI was negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β = -0·25, 95 % CI, -0·43, -0·06). We found no association between diet and depressive symptoms through BMI or CRP, in either race. Pre-pregnancy diet might affect the risk of prenatal depression in a race-specific way. Further research is required to explore the racial differences in the association between maternal diet and prenatal depressive symptoms/depression risk.

Partner's problematic social media use, woman's time perspective, and prenatal depression.

Using social media can have negative consequences. The present study aimed to examine how the partner's problematic social media use (SMU) was related to the pregnant woman's time perspective and prenatal depression. The study included 30 pregnant women and their 30 male partners. Research was conducted twice: in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. Women completed online measures: the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory Fatalism scale (ZTPI-Fat), the Dark Future Scale (DFS), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Men completed the online Social Media Addiction Questionnaire (SMAQ). The woman's depressive symptoms were positively associated with fatalism (r = .35, p < .01 in the first trimester; r = .49, p < .01 in the third trimester) and future negative perspective (r = .33, p < .05 in the first trimester; r = .77, p < .001 in the third trimester). Moreover, in the third trimester, women's depressive symptoms correlated positively with their partners' problematic SMU (r = .36, p < .05) and negatively with their financial situation (r = - .37, p < .05). The results of the mediation analyses showed that the more intensive the partner's problematic SMU, the stronger the pregnant woman's fatalism and, consequently, the stronger her future negative perspective, resulting in more severe prenatal depressive symptoms in the third trimester (indirect effect: β = .16, SE = .09, 95% CI [.021, .393]). Our findings show how important the behavior of the partner is for the mental health of the pregnant woman. The results suggest a possible mechanism explaining the relationship between the partner's problematic SMU and the woman's prenatal depressive symptoms. This mechanism probably consists in increasing the woman's sense of helplessness and loss of control over life, which leads to intensified future anxiety and, consequently, to depressive symptoms. Moreover, we interpreted the results to mean that the partner's time-consuming preoccupation with SMU may make the woman feel emotionally neglected. The lack of support from the partner may give rise to feelings of powerlessness, and may cause depressive symptoms.

Risk Perception and Maternal Prenatal Depressive Symptoms in the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic in China: Role of Negative Emotions and Family Sense of Coherence.

Prenatal depression is associated with adverse health outcomes for both mothers and their children. The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has presented new risks and challenges for expectant mothers. The aims of the study were to investigate the underlying mechanism between COVID-19 risk perception of Chinese pregnant women and their prenatal depressive symptoms and potential protective factors such as family sense of coherence (FSOC). A total of 181 Chinese pregnant women (Mage = 31.40 years, SD = 3.67, ranged from 23 to 43) participated in an online survey from April 22 to May 16, 2020. Risk perception and negative emotions (fear and anxiety) related with COVID-19, FSOC, and prenatal depressive symptoms were assessed. The experience of maternal COVID-19 related negative emotion fully mediated the positive relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and prenatal depressive symptoms of pregnant women (β = 0.12, 95% CI [0.06, 0.19]). When confronting COVID-19 related fear and anxiety, expectant mothers from higher coherent families experienced a significantly lower level of prenatal depressive symptoms. Contextual negative emotional experience was demonstrated to explain how risk perception impacts depressive symptoms during severe public health crisis for pregnant women. FSOC may be a psychological resource protecting pregnant women from experiencing adverse psychological outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Prenatal and Postnatal Depressive Symptoms in Babol Pregnancy Mental Health Registry: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Prenatal and postnatal depression (PND) is associated with adverse outcomes for mother, fetus, and child. The aim of study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms. This was a cross-sectional and hospital-based survey of 2305 pregnant women and post-partum women (18-48 years) that was registered in the Babol Pregnancy Mental Health Registry (BPMHR) database from June 2020 to March 2021. Two questionnaires, including demographics and depression, were analyzed in this study. Also, the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess the depressive symptoms. Independent t test and the analysis of variance were used to compare the means. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors for depressive symptoms. According to the EPDS scale, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 19.8% in the pregnant woman group in comparison with the postpartum period (11.6%). Risk factors for antenatal depressive symptoms were parity (women with parity ≥ 4 vs. 1 parity, ß=1.808, P=0.020), two groups of gestational age (gestational age ≤12 weeks vs. 28 weeks, ß=1.562 P=0.030) as well as (gestational age 21-27 weeks vs. 28 weeks (ß=1.586, P=0.033), and high-risk pregnancy (high-risk vs. low-risk pregnancy, ß=1.457, P=0.003). For postnatal depressive symptoms, none of the factors were a significant risk. Prenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms should be screened, particularly for women in the first and second trimesters, with high parity, and those with a high-risk pregnancy, as recommended by the present study.

A history of depression and prenatal depression are associated with a lower likelihood of breastfeeding initiation and maintenance, and more breastfeeding problems.

This study tests the hypotheses that lifetime history of depression, and prenatal depression, are associated with a reduced likelihood of breastfeeding initiation (giving the baby any breastmilk during the first week of life) and breastfeeding maintenance (giving the baby breastmilk for at least 6 months), and a greater likelihood of reporting breastfeeding problems. We analyzed data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child cohort study (MoBa), N = 78,307. Mothers reported a lifetime history of depression during the second trimester of pregnancy, and current symptoms of depression during the third trimester using the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist short version (SCL-8). At six months postpartum, mothers self-reported breastfeeding initiation, maintenance, and difficulties. Using binary logistic regression analyses, we report that a lifetime history of depression is associated with a lower likelihood of breastfeeding initiation (OR = 0.751, 95%CI = 0.650-0.938), breastfeeding maintenance (OR = 0.712, 95%CI = 0.669-0.785), and a greater likelihood of breastfeeding difficulties (OR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.72-2.06). Similarly, prenatal depression was associated with a lower likelihood of breastfeeding initiation (OR = 0.904, 95%CI = 0.878-0.929), breastfeeding maintenance (OR = 0.929, 95%CI = 0.920-0.938), and a greater likelihood of breastfeeding difficulties (OR = 1.10, 95%CI = 1.09-1.12). Results remained largely unchanged when covaried for several confounding variables, including medication use. We provide novel evidence that pre-conception and prenatal symptoms of depression are associated with breastfeeding outcomes. This information could be used to identify women very early in pregnancy who may need additional support with breastfeeding. There is also a need to fully understand the biopsychosocial mechanisms that mediate the relationship between depression prior to birth and breastfeeding outcomes.

Microglial function interacts with the environment to affect sex-specific depression risk

There is a two-fold higher incidence of depression in females compared to men with recent studies suggesting a role for microglia in conferring this sex-dependent depression risk. In this study we investigated the nature of this relation. Using GWAS enrichment, gene-set enrichment analysis and Mendelian randomization, we found minimal evidence for a direct relation between genes functionally related to microglia and sex-dependent genetic risk for depression. We then used expression quantitative trait loci and single nucleus RNA-sequencing resources to generate polygenic scores (PGS) representative of individual variation in microglial function in the adult (UK Biobank; N = 54753–72682) and fetal (ALSPAC; N = 1452) periods. The adult microglial PGS moderated the association between BMI (UK Biobank; beta = 0.001, 95 %CI 0.0009 to 0.003, P = 7.74E-6) and financial insecurity (UK Biobank; beta = 0.001, 95 %CI 0.005 to 0.015, P = 2E-4) with depressive symptoms in females. The fetal microglia PGS moderated the association between maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and offspring depressive symptoms at 24 years in females (ALSPAC; beta = 0.04, 95 %CI 0.004 to 0.07, P = 0.03). We found no evidence for an interaction between the microglial PGS and depression risk factors in males. Our results illustrate a role for microglial function in the conferral of sex-dependent depression risk following exposure to a depression risk factor.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms in first-time parents: A dyadic longitudinal study based on attachment theory

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the temporal and dyadic associations between anxiety and depressive symptoms during the transition to parenthood (TTP), while exploring the antecedence of attachment insecurities in these associations. MethodCouples of first-time parents (N = 211) completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire during the second trimester of pregnancy and at four and twelve months postpartum. ResultsBoth prenatal anxiety and depressive symptoms predicted postnatal depressive and anxiety symptoms. Prenatal attachment-related anxiety predicted higher postnatal anxiety and depressive symptoms whereas prenatal attachment-related avoidance predicted higher postnatal depressive symptoms only. Parents whose partners had a higher level of prenatal attachment-related anxiety experienced higher postnatal anxious and depressive symptoms via their own's prenatal depressive symptoms. Parents whose partners had a higher level of prenatal attachment-related avoidance experienced higher postnatal depressive symptoms via their own's prenatal anxious symptoms. No gender differences were found for these associations. LimitationsThe sample was predominantly composed of educated heterosexual French-Canadian Caucasian couples and all measures were self-reported. ConclusionsOur original findings suggest that professionals should routinely screen for anxiety and depressive symptoms in both partners from pregnancy up to one year postpartum. Also, our findings suggest addressing attachment insecurities with both partners to prevent the development of future symptoms during pregnancy or after childbirth. Finally, our study supports the relevance of considering these symptoms at subclinical levels during the TTP.

Placental corticotrophin-releasing hormone trajectories in pregnancy: Associations with postpartum depressive symptoms

ObjectiveDepressive symptoms following birth are common and can have adverse effects for mothers, children, and families. Changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation during pregnancy may be implicated in the development of postpartum depressive symptoms, particularly changes in placental corticotropinreleasing hormone (pCRH). However, few studies have tested how dynamic pCRH changes over pregnancy relate to postpartum depressive symptoms. This preregistered investigation tests associations of both pCRH levels and changes from early to late pregnancy with postpartum depressive symptoms. Methods: The sample consists of 173 women studied in early, mid, and late pregnancy who later reported on depressive symptoms with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale during interviews at 1, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Blood samples were collected at each prenatal timepoint and assayed for pCRH using radioimmunoassay. Latent growth curve analysis was employed to identify distinct trajectories of pCRH during pregnancy.Results: We identified three prenatal pCRH trajectories labeled as typical, flat, and accelerated. Each trajectory showed exponential increases in pCRH levels over the course of gestation but differed in overall levels and rates of change. pCRH levels were not associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. However, women with accelerated pCRH trajectories reported marginally higher depressive symptoms one month postpartum. Primary analysis models adjusted for marital status, income, prepregnancy BMI, parity, prenatal depressive symptoms, and gestational age.Conclusions: These findings add to our understanding of dynamic changes to maternal HPA axis regulation during pregnancy and contribute to growing evidence on how pCRH changes relate to the development of postpartum depressive symptoms

Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and child brain responses to affective touch at two years of age

BackgroundTouch is an essential form of mother-child interaction, instigating better social bonding and emotional stability. MethodsWe used diffuse optical tomography to explore the relationship between total haemoglobin (HbT) responses to affective touch in the child's brain at two years of age and maternal self-reported prenatal depressive symptoms (EPDS). Affective touch was implemented via slow brushing of the child's right forearm at 3 cm/s and non-affective touch via fast brushing at 30 cm/s and HbT responses were recorded on the left hemisphere. ResultsWe discovered a cluster in the postcentral gyrus exhibiting a negative correlation (Pearson's r = −0.84, p = 0.015 corrected for multiple comparisons) between child HbT response to affective touch and EPDS at gestational week 34. Based on region of interest (ROI) analysis, we found negative correlations between child responses to affective touch and maternal prenatal EPDS at gestational week 14 in the precentral gyrus, Rolandic operculum and secondary somatosensory cortex. The responses to non-affective touch did not correlate with EPDS in these regions. LimitationsThe number of mother-child dyads was 16. However, by utilising high-density optode arrangements, individualised anatomical models, and video and accelerometry to monitor movement, we were able to minimize methodological sources of variability in the data. ConclusionsThe results show that maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy may be associated with reduced child responses to affective touch in the temporoparietal cortex. Responses to affective touch may be considered as potential biomarkers for psychosocial development in children. Early identification of and intervention in maternal depression may be important already during early pregnancy.