Trajectories Of Maternal Depressive Symptoms Research Articles

Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from infancy through early childhood: The roles of perceived financial strain, social support, and intimate partner violence.

Although new mothers are at risk of heightened vulnerability for depressive symptoms, there is limited understanding regarding changes in maternal depressive symptoms over the course of the postpartum and early childhood of their child's life among rural, low-income mothers from diverse racial backgrounds. This study examined distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among rural low-income mothers during the first five years of their child's life, at 6, 15, 24, and 58 months, using data from the Family Life Project (N = 1,292). Latent class growth analysis identified four distinct trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms, including Low-decreasing (50%; n = 622), Low-increasing (26%; n = 324), Moderate-decreasing (13%; n = 156), and Moderate-increasing (11%; n = 131) trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression demonstrated that higher perceived financial strain and intimate partner violence, and lower social support predicted higher-risk trajectories (Low-increasing, Moderate-decreasing, and Moderate-increasing) relative to the Low-decreasing trajectory. Compared to the Low-decreasing trajectory, lower neighborhood safety/quietness predicted to the Low-increasing trajectory. Moreover, lower social support predicted the Moderate-increasing trajectory, the highest-risk trajectory, compared to those in Moderate-decreasing. The current analyses underscore the heterogeneity on patterns of depressive symptoms among rural, low-income mothers, and that the role of both proximal and broader contexts contributing to distinct trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms over early childhood.

Trajectories of maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms and child's socio-emotional outcome during early childhood

Maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and early postnatal years are suggested to impose differential negative effects on child's socio-emotional development depending on the characteristics of the symptoms, such as timing, intensity, and persistence. The aim of this study was to identify trajectories of maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms from pregnancy until 2 years postpartum and to examine their relationship with child socio-emotional problems and competence at 2 and 5 years of age.The sample included 1208 mother-infant dyads from FinnBrain Birth Cohort study. Latent growth mixture modelling (LGMM) was utilized to model the trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms, measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and general anxiety, measured with Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) at 14, 24, and 34 weeks' gestation (gw) and at 3, 6 and 24 months postpartum. Maternal depression was also assessed at 12 months. Child socio-emotional problems and competence were evaluated using the Brief Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (BITSEA) at 2 years and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 5 years. Relevant background factors and maternal concurrent symptomatology were controlled for.The trajectories of maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated negatively with differential aspects of child long term socio-emotional outcomes from early toddlerhood to preschool years. The trajectories of depressive symptoms and high-level persistent symptoms that continued from pregnancy to two years of child age had the strongest negative association with child outcomes. This highlights the importance of identifying and treating maternal symptomatology, especially that of depression, as early as possible.

Maternal depression and offspring mental health at age 5: MINA-Brazil cohort study.

To identify longitudinal patterns of maternal depression between three months and five years after child's birth, to examine predictor variables for these trajectories, and to evaluate whether distinct depression trajectories predict offspring mental health problems at age 5 years. We used data from the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre (MINA-Brazil) study, a population-based birth cohort in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 3 and 6-8 months, and 1 and 2 years after delivery. Mental health problems in 5-year-old children were evaluated with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) reported by parents. Trajectories of maternal depression were calculated using a group-based modelling approach. We identified four trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms: "low" (67.1%), "increasing" (11.5%), "decreasing" (17.4%), and "high-chronic" (4.0%). Women in the "high/chronic" trajectory were the poorest, least educated, and oldest compared with women in the other trajectory groups. Also, they were more frequently multiparous and reported smoking and having attended fewer prenatal consultations during pregnancy. In the adjusted analyses, the odds ratio of any SDQ disorder was 3.23 (95%CI: 2.00-5.22) and 2.87 (95%CI: 1.09-7.57) times higher among children of mothers belonging to the "increasing" and "high-chronic" trajectory groups, respectively, compared with those of mothers in the "low" depressive symptoms group. These differences were not explained by maternal and child characteristics included in multivariate analyses. We identified poorer mental health outcomes for children of mothers assigned to the "chronic/severe" and "increasing" depressive symptoms trajectories. Prevention and treatment initiatives to avoid the adverse short, medium, and long-term effects of maternal depression on offspring development should focus on women belonging to these groups.

Disentangling the trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms and partnership problems in the transition to parenthood and their impact on child adjustment difficulties.

Maternal perinatal depression (PND) and partnership problems have been identified to influence the development of later child adjustment difficulties. However, PND and partnership problems are closely linked which makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the exact transmission pathways. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent PND symptoms and partnership problems influence each other longitudinally and to examine the influence of their trajectories on child adjustment difficulties at the age of three. Analyses were based on publicly available data from the German family panel "pairfam". N = 354 mothers were surveyed on depressive symptoms and partnership problems annually from pregnancy (T0) until child age three (T4). Child adjustment difficulties were assessed at age three. Results of latent change score modeling showed that partnership problems predicted change in PND symptoms at T0 and T3 while PND symptoms did not predict change in partnership problems. Child adjustment difficulties at age three were predicted by PND symptoms, but not by partnership problems. Partnership problems predicted externalizing, but not internalizing symptoms. Results underline the effects of family factors for the development of child adjustment difficulties and emphasize the importance of early interventions from pregnancy onwards.

Maternal depression in first 1000days of life and early childhood caries prevalence at 48months of age.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal's depression trajectory in the first 1000days of the child's life on the prevalence of early childhood dental caries (ECC), in a birth cohort. All infants born in Pelotas in 2015 were identified, and the mothers were invited to participate in the cohort. A total of 3645 children were included in the study. The outcome was ECC at 48months of age assessed according to ICDAS. Maternal depression was collected using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) antenatally, at 3, 12, and 24months of age. Maternal depressive symptom trajectory variables were created using group-based trajectory models and adopting two cutoff points. Poisson regression model with robust variance was used to identify the total effect of maternal depressive symptom trajectories on ECC, adjusting by confounders. A total of 29.2% of the mothers presented a high trajectory for screening of depression, and 18.8% presented a high trajectory of depression diagnosis. The prevalence of ECC was 26.7%. After adjusted analysis, maternal depression trajectories (screening and diagnosis) from pregnancy to 24months increased the risk for ECC at 48months of age (RR = 1.14; 95% CI 1.02-1.28 and RR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.05-1.35). Children from mothers with high depression trajectory had higher risk of having dental caries at 48months compared to children from mothers with low depression trajectory. Strategies of early detection and treatment of maternal mental disorders during the Golden Period should be considered of high priority in health services since it could impact positively in children's life.

Perinatal Trajectories of Maternal Depressive Symptoms in Prospective, Community-Based Cohorts Across 3 Continents

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy influence the development and health of the offspring, underscoring the need for timely intervention. However, the course of depressive symptoms across the perinatal period remains unclear, thus complicating screening and referral guidelines. To examine the course and stability of depressive symptoms across the perinatal period in multiple, ethnically diverse independent observational cohorts. This cohort study included self-reported depressive symptoms at multiple time points from 7 prospective cohorts spanning 3 continents (United Kingdom: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children from 1991 to 1995; Canada: Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment from 2003 to 2007; Montreal Antenatal Well-being Study from 2019 to 2022; Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition from 2009 to 2014; and Singapore: Growing Up in Singapore Toward Healthy Outcomes from 2009 to 2013; Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes from 2015 to 2019; and Mapping Antenatal Maternal Stress from 2019 to 2022). Participants were recruited either during preconception or pregnancy and observed into the postnatal period. All data from each cohort were analyzed from July 2022 to April 2023. Self-reported depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 2 years following childbirth using either the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression were analyzed independently within each cohort using item response theory (IRT) techniques. K-means clustering was used to identify groups of participants with similar trajectories. A total of 11 563 pregnant women (mean [SD] age, 29 [5] years; 569 [4.9%] East Asian women; 304 [2.6%] Southeast Asian women; 10 133 [87.6%] White women) self-reported depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 2 years following childbirth. Analytic methods from Item Response Theory identified 3 groups of mothers based on depressive symptoms: low, mild, and high levels in each of the 7 cohorts. Mothers within and across all cohorts had stable trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from pregnancy onwards. Mothers with clinical levels of depressive symptoms likewise showed stable trajectories from pregnancy into the postnatal period. In this study, trajectories of depressive symptoms remained stable from pregnancy across the perinatal period, a finding that conflicts with a continuing emphasis on postpartum or postnatal onset of depression that persists in some health policy guidelines. Interventions and public health initiatives should focus on reducing depressive symptoms during pregnancy in addition to following birth.

The trajectory of maternal perinatal depressive symptoms predicts executive function in early childhood.

Perinatal maternal depression may affect fetal neurodevelopment directly or indirectly via exposures such as smoking, alcohol, or antidepressant use. The relative contribution of these risk factors on child executive function (EF) has not been explored systematically. A prospective pregnancy cohort of 197 women and their children was studied to determine whether maternal depression diagnosis and the trajectory of maternal depressive symptoms (MDSs) from early pregnancy to 12 months postpartum predicts child EF at age 4 (measured using the preschool age psychiatric assessment, NEPSY-II, and Shape School task) using latent growth curve modeling. Indirect effects of smoking, alcohol, and antidepressant use were also formally tested. Increasing maternal perinatal depressive symptoms over time predicted more inattentive symptoms, poorer switching, and motor inhibition, but not cognitive inhibition. When adjusted for multiple comparison, and after accounting for maternal cognition and education, the association with child inattentive symptoms remained significant. However, diagnosed depression did not predict child EF outcomes. Prenatal exposure to smoking, alcohol, and antidepressants also did not mediate pathways from depressive symptoms to EF outcomes. Our findings were limited by sample size and statistical power to detect outcome effects of smaller effect size. This study suggests that increasing MDSs over the perinatal period is associated with poorer EF outcomes in children at age 4 - independent of prenatal smoking, drinking, or antidepressant use. Depressive chronicity, severity, and postpartum influences may play crucial roles in determining childhood outcomes of EF.

Correction to Ku and Feng (2021).

Reports an error in "Maternal depressive symptoms and the growth of child executive function: Mediation by maternal sensitivity" by Seulki Ku and Xin Feng (Journal of Family Psychology, Advanced Online Publication, Mar 04, 2021, np). In the original article, there were errors in the second paragraph of the Method section whereby the text "22.1% did not in Grade 3," should have read "22.1% in Grade 3," and the text "The Ohio State University)." should have read "The Ohio State University." In addition, Figure 1 was incorrect and has been replaced. All versions of this article have been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2021-23726-001). This study examined the prospective associations among the trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and child executive function (EF) across early and middle childhood, and tested the mediating role of maternal sensitivity in the links between change in maternal depressive symptoms and the growth of child EF. Participants included 1,364 children and mothers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD). We found that maternal depressive symptoms (from 6 months to Grade 5) and sensitivity (from 36 months to Grade 5) decreased, whereas child EF (planning skills; from Grade 1 to 5) increased over time. We also found several direct associations: (a) lower maternal depressive symptoms at 36 months predicted higher sensitivity at 54 months; (b) higher sensitivity at 54 months and a faster decrease in sensitivity from 36 months to Grade 5 predicted higher child EF in Grade 1; and (c) higher sensitivity at 54 months predicted greater growth of EF from Grade 1 to 5. In addition, two mediation effects were found as follows: Lower levels of maternal depressive symptoms at 36 months predicted both higher levels of child EF in Grade 1 and greater growth of EF from Grade 1 to 5 through higher levels of maternal sensitivity at 54 months. The results suggest that early maternal depressive symptoms may have long-term effects on the growth of EF, especially planning skills, during middle childhood, and that one important pathway that maternal depressive symptoms affect child EF outcomes through maternal sensitivity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Maternal depressive symptoms and the growth of child executive function: Mediation by maternal sensitivity.

This study examined the prospective associations among the trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and child executive function (EF) across early and middle childhood, and tested the mediating role of maternal sensitivity in the links between change in maternal depressive symptoms and the growth of child EF. Participants included 1,364 children and mothers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD). We found that maternal depressive symptoms (from 6 months to Grade 5) and sensitivity (from 36 months to Grade 5) decreased, whereas child EF (planning skills; from Grade 1 to 5) increased over time. We also found several direct associations: (a) lower maternal depressive symptoms at 36 months predicted higher sensitivity at 54 months; (b) higher sensitivity at 54 months and a faster decrease in sensitivity from 36 months to Grade 5 predicted higher child EF in Grade 1; and (c) higher sensitivity at 54 months predicted greater growth of EF from Grade 1 to 5. In addition, two mediation effects were found as follows: Lower levels of maternal depressive symptoms at 36 months predicted both higher levels of child EF in Grade 1 and greater growth of EF from Grade 1 to 5 through higher levels of maternal sensitivity at 54 months. The results suggest that early maternal depressive symptoms may have long-term effects on the growth of EF, especially planning skills, during middle childhood, and that one important pathway that maternal depressive symptoms affect child EF outcomes through maternal sensitivity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Relationship between anxiety and depressive trajectories of women who conceived through assisted reproductive technology and their children's emotional and behavioral problems: A prospective cohort study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the relationship between the anxiety and depressive trajectory of women conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) and their children's emotional and behavioral problems. MethodsThis prospective cohort study including 18,711 women, was conducted between July 2014 and December 2017. Self-rating scales for anxiety and depression were used before treatment, during the first trimester, and two to three years postpartum. A latent class growth analysis identified their maternal anxiety and depressive symptom trajectories. Multiple comparison and linear regression models were performed to assess the relationships between maternal trajectories and their offspring's emotional and behavioral problems. ResultsThree longitudinal heterogeneous trajectories of maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms were identified: resilient, recurrent, and emergent. After adjusting for covariates, children with mothers in the recurrent and emergent trajectory groups had higher Child Behavior Checklist/2–3 scores. Additionally, the participants with a recurrent trajectory had lower education and employment levels and younger maternal age at delivery. They also had a history of ovarian surgery, primipara, secondary infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, and more embryo transferred cycles, including intracytoplasmic sperm injections. Those with resilient trajectories had higher antral follicle counts and GnRH antagonist protocol. Finally, the participants with emergent trajectories had a lower monthly income, primipara, ectopic pregnancy, and fresh embryo transfers. ConclusionsInfertile women's psychological stress was not alleviated by the ART—sociodemographic, infertility-related and treatment-related characteristics determined three mental health trajectories. Children with mothers in recurrent and emergent trajectories showed higher odds of experiencing emotional and behavioral problems.

Trajectory of maternal depression and parasomnias.

Maternal depressive symptoms are associated with poorer sleep quality in their children. Although parasomnias can occur at any age, this group of sleep disorders is more common in children. The aim of this study was to assess whether maternal depression trajectories predict parasomnias at the age of 11 years. Data were from a Birth Cohort of 4231 individuals followed in the city of Pelotas, Brazil. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 12, 24, and 48 months, and 6 and 11 years postpartum. Maternal depression trajectories were calculated using a group-based modelling approach. Information on any parasomnias (confused arousals, sleepwalking, night terrors, and nightmares) was provided by the mother. Five trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms were identified: chronic-low (34.9%), chronic-moderate (41.4%), increasing (10.3%), decreasing (8.9%), and chronic-high (4.4%). The prevalence of any parasomnia at the age of 11 years was 16.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.6%-18.1%). Confusional arousal was the most prevalent type of parasomnia (14.5%) and varied from 8.7% to 14.7%, 22.9%, 20.3%, and 27.5% among children of mothers at chronic-low, moderate-low, increasing, decreasing, and chronic-high trajectories, respectively (p< 0.001). Compared to children from mothers in the chronic-low trajectory, the adjusted prevalence ratio for any parasomnia was 1.58(95% CI 1.29-1.94), 2.34(95% CI 1.83-2.98), 2.15(95% CI 1.65-2.81), and 3.07(95% CI 2.31-4.07) among those from mothers in the moderate-low, increasing, decreasing, and chronic-high trajectory groups, respectively (p < 0.001). In conclusion, parasomnias were more prevalent among children of mothers with chronic symptoms of depression.

Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 11 years postpartum: Findings from Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort

BackgroundMaternal depressive symptoms are common in pregnancy and may extend to the perinatal period and beyond for some women. To date, few longitudinal studies have investigated maternal depressive symptoms from pregnancy to eleven years postpartum. Drawing data from a large population-based study cohort the aims of this study were to 1) identify distinct groups of mothers defined by their trajectories of depressive symptoms spanning from pregnancy to eleven years following the birth of the child, and 2) to identify psychosocial risk factors during pregnancy and in the first few postnatal years that are associated with these trajectories. MethodsData were analyzed from 14,170 mothers who participated in Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to capture maternal depressive symptoms across 10 time points including two prenatal (18 and 32 weeks), and eight postnatal (2, 8, 21, 33, 61, 73, 97 and 134 months) time points. The latent growth model was created to describe the course of maternal depressive symptoms across the preceding time points followed by a latent growth mixture modelling (LGMM) to identify distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms over time within the overall sample. The predictors of maternal depressive symptoms trajectories were categorized into sociodemographic, child, and psychosocial factors. The multinomial regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between the risk factors and depressive symptoms trajectories. ResultsLGMM identified four distinct trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms over time: minimal symptoms, increasing symptoms, persistent symptoms, and decreasing symptoms. Predictors of all patterns of depression - persistent, increasing and decreasing symptoms include smoking during pregnancy, and partner conflict. The strongest predictors of the persistent symptom trajectory included maternal history of depression and inadequate social support. LimitationsThe use of self-reported maternal mental health symptoms and under representation of ethnic minorities are our study's limitations. ConclusionsThe study findings highlight the importance of early identification and treatment for mothers experiencing depressive symptoms from pregnancy to the perinatal period and beyond.

Maternal depressive symptom trajectories from preconception through postpartum: Associations with offspring developmental outcomes in early childhood

BackgroundTwo theoretical frameworks, the cumulative stress and match-mismatch model, propose that patterns of maternal depressive symptoms over early periods of offspring development predict outcomes in opposing ways. Studies have yet to test these theories across the preconception, prenatal, and early postnatal period. Study 1 identified trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from preconception to postpartum. Study 2 examined associations of these trajectories with offspring developmental outcomes in early childhood. MethodsIn Study 1, women (n = 362) enrolled in a longitudinal study were assessed prior to conception and through a subsequent pregnancy and postpartum. In Study 2, a subsample of 125 mother-child pairs completed home visits in early childhood. Mothers reported on child temperament at age 4. Children completed assessments of executive function at age 5. ResultsFour trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms were identified: low-stable, increasing, decreasing, persistent. In controlled analyses, children of women with decreasing symptoms were lower in maternal ratings of effortful control at age four (β = −0.24, p = .003). Children of women with increasing symptoms scored lower on an inhibitory control task at age five (β = −0.35, p = .001). ConclusionsChanges in maternal depressive symptoms, but not stable symptoms, were associated with lower maternal ratings of effortful control and poorer performance on an inhibitory control task. Results are consistent with the match-mismatch model. Assessment of preconception depressive symptoms in women and changes in symptoms may be beneficial for early intervention for women and children.

Early pregnancy exposure to metals and maternal depressive symptom trajectories in Project Viva

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Exposure to neurotoxicant metals, hypothesized to alter dopaminergic function, have not been sufficiently explored as a risk factor for maternal depression. We evaluated the extent to which early pregnancy blood levels of essential and non-essential metals were prospectively associated with depressive symptom trajectories from mid-pregnancy to 7-years postpartum. METHODS: Participants were 872 women in Project Viva, a longitudinal Boston-area cohort recruited during pregnancy (1999-2002). We measured levels of 11 metal(loid)s (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, copper, mercury, magnesium, manganese, lead, selenium, zinc) in maternal first trimester erythrocytes. We assessed depressive symptoms via the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at mid-pregnancy and four postpartum timepoints (6 months, 1, 3, 7 years). Utilizing latent class mixed modeling, we identified three depressive symptom trajectories: stable low (86%); elevated perinatal symptoms, then decreasing (9%); and moderate perinatal symptoms, then increasing (5%), among women with ≥3 repeat measures. Adjusting for maternal sociodemographics and dietary intake, we used multinomial logistic regression to test associations of individual metal levels with odds of having an increasing or decreasing trajectory. RESULTS:In our cohort of moderately high socioeconomic status participants (e.g., 75% college graduate), correlations between metal levels were mostly positive (Spearman: 0.01-0.60), except for negative correlations between barium and all other elements. Compared to having a stable low trajectory, a doubling of blood arsenic was associated with 1.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.01, 1.59) odds of an increasing depressive trajectory. Greater prenatal mercury blood level was associated with lower odds of having a decreasing trajectory [0.88 (95% confidence interval: 0.77, 1.00)]. All other first trimester metal levels were not associated with depressive symptom trajectory. CONCLUSIONS:In our study investigating associations of several early pregnancy metals with maternal depressive symptom trajectories, we did not observe strong evidence of associations. Residual confounding or multiple testing may explain observed associations with arsenic and mercury. KEYWORDS: Mental health outcomes, heavy metals, chemical exposures, female

Trajectory of Maternal Postpartum Depressive Symptoms Moderates the Bidirectional Associations between Maternal Intrusive Parenting and Infant Fear

BackgroundThe association between maternal intrusive parenting and infant fear remains poorly understood, especially in the persistence of maternal postpartum depression. The current study investigated the moderating role of maternal postpartum depressive symptoms on the bidirectional link between maternal intrusive parenting and infant fear, among a sample of low-income, rural mothers. Methods. A sample of 1,292 mothers reported their depressive symptoms at 2, 6, 15, and 24 months postpartum, whereas their intrusive parenting behavior and infant fear were observed at infants age 6, 15, and 24 months. Results. Latent growth curve models revealed that maternal postpartum depressive symptoms increased over 2 years. From 6 months to 24 months, maternal intrusive parenting remained stable, and infant fear increased. Moderation analyses revealed that when mothers had low levels of initial depressive symptoms, a higher initial level of maternal intrusive parenting predicted a faster increase of infant fear. Additionally, when mothers’ depressive symptoms showed a fast increase, a higher initial level of infant fear predicted a faster reduction in maternal intrusive parenting. Limitations. The low-income, rural community sample limited the generalizability of the current findings. Conclusions. The interplay between maternal intrusive parenting and infant fear supports a transactional model of child development in the context of maternal depression, with implications for future research and intervention efforts.

Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms and offspring\u2019s risk behavior in early adolescence: data from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort study

BackgroundThis longitudinal study explored the relationship between trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms and offspring’s risk behavior in adolescence contributing to an extremely scarce literature about the impacts of maternal depression trajectories on offspring risk behaviors.MethodsWe included 3437 11-year-old adolescents from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms were constructed using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) from age 3 months to 11 years. We identified five trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms: “low” “moderate low”, “increasing”, “decreasing”, and “chronic high”. The following adolescent outcomes were identified via self-report questionnaire and analyzed as binary outcome –yes/no: involvement in fights and alcohol use at age 11. We used logistic regression models to examine the effects of trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms on offspring’s risk behavior adjusting for potential confounding variable.ResultsAlcohol use and/or abuse as well as involvement in fights during adolescence, were not significantly associated with any specific trajectory of maternal depressive symptoms neither in the crude nor in the adjusted analyses.ConclusionAlcohol use and involvement in fights at age 11 were not associated with any specific trajectory of maternal depression.

Maternal Depression Trajectories Relate to Youths’ Psychosocial and Cognitive Functioning at Adolescence and Young Adulthood

This study evaluated how patterns of mothers' depressive symptoms across their child's childhood relate to children's psychosocial adjustment at adolescence and young adulthood and to cognitive functioning at adolescence. Depressive symptoms were measured in 1,273 mothers when their children were 1, 5, 10, and 14.6 years of age. Children (53.5% male; n = 1,024) completed the Youth Self-Report at adolescence (M = 14.6y), and the Adult Self-Report in young adulthood (M = 20.5y; n = 817) to assess internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Adolescents also completed standardized cognitive tests to assess verbal and mathematical skills. Growth mixture modeling analyses identified four patterns of maternal depressive symptom trajectories: infrequent (55%), increasing at adolescence (20%), decreasing at adolescence (14%), and chronic severe (11%). Results indicated that exposure to maternal depression of any duration, severity or time period during childhood portended higher levels of externalizing and attention problems at both adolescence and adulthood and higher levels of internalizing problems at adulthood. Adolescents whose mothers had chronic severe depressive symptoms had lower language, vocabulary, reading comprehension and mathematical test scores than youth whose mothers had stable infrequent depressive symptoms. Findings illustrate the significance and long-term ramifications of mothers' depressed mood for their children's mental and psychosocial health into adulthood. Findings also demonstrate that the lower cognitive abilities among children of severely depressed mothers persist beyond childhood and pertain to a broad range of cognitive abilities.

Exposure to Parental Depressive Symptoms: A Longitudinal Analysis on the Association with Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms and Adjustment Problems.

Parental depressive symptoms have been associated with depressive symptoms and adjustment problems in adolescents. However, longitudinal studies assessing both mothers' and fathers' depressive symptoms over time and their association with adolescents' outcomes are sparse. Data were obtained from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. A total of 1364 children and families were followed from the child's birth until the age of 15 years. Adolescents' depressive symptoms were evaluated via self-reported questionnaire at ages 11 to 15 years. Adjustment problems at 15 years of age were defined as high internalizing and/or externalizing problems. Parental depressive symptoms were assessed several times during the study period. Trajectories created using partitional clustering analyses were entered in logistic regression models to predict adolescents' outcomes. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, adolescents' outcomes were associated with every additional time point of reported maternal (depressive symptoms: odds ratio [OR] = 1.2, p = 0.001; adjustment problems: OR = 1.1, p = 0.003) and paternal depressive symptoms (adjustment problems: OR = 1.2, p = 0.027). When maternal and paternal depressive symptom trajectories were combined, we found adolescents' depressive symptoms to be significantly associated with mother elevated and stable subclinical father scores (OR = 3.3, p = 0.003) and girls (OR = 5.4, p < 0.001). Adjustment problems were associated with father elevated and stable subclinical mother (OR = 1.9, p = 0.003) and mother elevated and stable subclinical father (OR = 2.1, p = 0.001) trajectories. Parental depressive symptoms are an important risk factor for adolescents' outcomes. This highlights the importance of continuously evaluating parents' mental status across child development. The cumulative effect of recurrent depressive symptoms and the combined parental trajectories are especially predictive for the development of adolescents' outcomes.

Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from the antenatal period to 24-months postnatal follow-up: findings from the 2015 Pelotas birth cohort

BackgroundMaternal depression may be chronic and recurrent, with negative effects both on the health of mothers and children. Many studies have shown trajectories of postnatal depressive symptoms but few studies in low- and middle-income countries have evaluated the trajectories of depressive symptoms starting during pregnancy. This study aims to identify the different trajectories of depressive symptoms among mothers in the Pelotas 2015 birth cohort, from pregnancy to the second year of the child’s life.MethodsThis study used data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort, a longitudinal study of all live births occurred in 2015 in Pelotas, Brazil. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Mothers who completed the EPDS on at least three follow-up visits beginning to the antenatal follow-up visit were included in the analyses. The trajectory of maternal depressive symptoms was estimated through group-based trajectory modeling.ResultsA total of 3040 women were included in the present analysis. We identified five groups of maternal depressive symptoms trajectories, with 23.4% of the mothers presenting persistent depressive symptoms and 3.9% showing chronic high depressive symptoms throughout the study period. The probability of having persistent depressive symptoms increased among mothers with greater socioeconomic vulnerability.ConclusionsThis study shown the persistence of maternal depressive symptoms since pregnancy until 2 years postnatal. Additionally, alongside the known risk factors, pre-gestational depression and antenatal depressive symptoms are important risk factors for the persistence and severity of depressive symptoms. These findings support the need to provide mental health evaluation and care for women from pregnancy to the late postnatal period.

Maternal depression trajectories from 3 months to 11 years postpartum and offspring body composition in early adolescence.

To investigate the effect of maternal depressive symptom trajectories, from 3 months to 11 years postpartum, on the offspring's body composition at 11 years of age. Data from the Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort, from the perinatal interview and from the 3-, 12-, 24- and 48-month and 6- and 11-year follow-ups. Community-based sample from the city of Pelotas, located in southern Brazil with approximately 350 000 inhabitants. The maternal depression symptom trajectories were identified through a semi-parametric group-based modelling approach, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with data from 3 months to 11 years postpartum. A total of 3467 (81·9 % of the total cohort). Five trajectory groups of EPDS scores were identified ('Low', 'Moderate low', 'Increasing', 'Decreasing' and 'Chronic high'). A total of 170 women (4·9 %) from the sample belonged to the 'Chronic high' group, having scored ≥13 EPDS points at every follow-up. Mean BMI in the 'Low' trajectory group was 0·77 (z-score 1·4), compared with 0·56 (z-score 1·4) in the 'Chronic high' group. Children from mothers in the 'Chronic high' group had lower fat mass (FM) (-1·34 ± 0·64 kg), FM% (-2·02 ± 0·85 percentage points) and FM index (-0·57 ± 0·27 kg/m2), compared with children from mothers in the 'Low' trajectory group. Adjusted analyses showed that sustained or transitory maternal depressive symptoms during childhood had no effect on the offspring's body composition indices at 11 years of age. Children raised by chronically depressed mothers have body composition indices at 11 years of age that are similar to those of children whose mothers have never been depressed.