Perinatal maternal depressive symptoms and risk of behavioral problems at five years

• Published in: Pediatric research Vol. 92; no. 1; pp. 315 - 321
• Main Authors: Yamada, Maoka, Tanaka, Keiko, Arakawa, Masashi, Miyake, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.07.2022; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mothers; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics; Population Study Article; Pregnancy
• ISSN: 0031-3998; 1530-0447; 1530-0447
• DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01719-9

Background Evidence on the association between perinatal maternal depression and children’s behavioral development is limited. We investigated the association between maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum and the risk of childhood behavioral problems using data from a birth cohort study. Methods Study subjects were 1199 mother–child pairs. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale during pregnancy and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 4 months postpartum. Children’s behavioral development at 5 years of age was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Compared with children whose mothers did not experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy, those whose mothers did experience depressive symptoms during pregnancy had increased risk of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior. Maternal depressive symptoms at around 4 months postpartum were associated with increased risk of childhood emotional problems. Compared with children whose mothers did not experience depressive symptoms during the perinatal period, those whose mothers did experience depressive symptoms both during pregnancy and postpartum had a fivefold increased risk of childhood emotional symptoms and a threefold increased risk of peer problems. Conclusions Our findings suggest that perinatal maternal depression is associated with behavioral problems in children. Impact Several epidemiological studies in Western countries have examined the association between perinatal maternal depression and children’s behavioral development, yet the results are conflicting and inconclusive. There is limited evidence on this topic in Asia. In our study using data from a prospective pregnancy birth cohort, maternal depressive symptoms around 4 months postpartum were associated with an increased risk of emotional symptoms in children aged 5 years. Children whose mothers had exhibited depressive symptoms both during pregnancy and postpartum had a fivefold increased risk of childhood emotional symptoms and a threefold increased risk of peer problems.