Role of Maternal Depression on Child Development: A Prospective Analysis from Pregnancy to Early Childhood

• Published in: Child psychiatry and human development Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 502 - 514
• Main Authors: Urizar, Guido G., Muñoz, Ricardo F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: At risk populations; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child and School Psychology; Child Development; Child poverty; Child, Preschool; Childhood; Children; Cognitive ability; Cognitive development; Depression - psychology; Depression, Postpartum - psychology; Early intervention; Emotional development; Emotions; Female; Humans; Immigrants; Low income groups; Maternal depression; Mental depression; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Original Article; Postpartum; Postpartum depression; Postpartum Period - psychology; Pregnancy; Prevention programs; Psychiatry; Psychology; Side effects; Social development; Timing; Social-emotional development; Perinatal; Depression; Cognitive development; Mothers
• ISSN: 0009-398X; 1573-3327
• DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01138-1

Few studies have examined how different characteristics of maternal depression may be associated with developmental outcomes among low-income children. The current study prospectively examined whether the timing (pregnancy vs. early postpartum), severity, and chronicity of maternal depression were associated with child cognitive and social-emotional development in two cohorts of primarily low-income Latinx immigrant mothers and their children. Maternal depression was assessed during pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. Child development was assessed up to 5 years postpartum. Results showed that maternal depression experienced during pregnancy was associated with lower child cognitive development, particularly among girls. Additionally, both the timing (pregnancy and early postpartum) and severity/chronicity of maternal depression were each independently associated with lower child social-emotional development. These findings highlight the need for early prevention interventions to help offset the adverse effects of maternal depression on child developmental outcomes in this at-risk population.