Maternal Depressive Symptoms at 2 to 4 Months Post Partum and Early Parenting Practices

BackgroundPrevious findings have been mixed regarding the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and child cognitive development. The objective of this study was to systematically review relevant literature and to perform a meta-analysis.MethodThree electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO) were searched. Initial screening was conducted independently by two reviewers. Studies selected for detailed review were read in full and included based on a set of criteria. Data from selected studies were abstracted onto a standardized form. Meta-analysis using the inverse variance approach and random-effects models was conducted.ResultsThe univariate analysis of 14 studies revealed that maternal depressive symptoms are related to lower cognitive scores among children aged ⩽56 months (Cohen's d = −0.25, 95% CI −0.39 to −0.12). The synthesis of studies controlling for confounding variables showed that the mean cognitive score for children 6–8 weeks post-partum whose mothers had high depressive symptoms during the first few weeks postpartum was approximately 4.2 units lower on the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID) compared with children with non-symptomatic mothers (B̂ = −4.17, 95% CI −8.01 to −0.32).ConclusionsThe results indicated that maternal depressive symptoms are related to lower cognitive scores in early infancy, after adjusting for confounding factors. An integrated approach for supporting child cognitive development may include program efforts that promote maternal mental health in addition to family economic wellbeing, responsive caregiving, and child nutrition.

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Maternal depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy are associated with increased placental glucocorticoid sensitivity

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s003329171400316x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (10) ◽

pp. 2023-2030 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

R. M. Reynolds ◽

A.-K. Pesonen ◽

J. R. O'Reilly ◽

S. Tuovinen ◽

M. Lahti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Effect Size ◽

Post Partum ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Placental Function ◽

Messenger Ribonucleic Acid ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Prediction And Prevention ◽

Mr Effect

BackgroundMaternal prenatal depression predicts post-partum depression and increases risk of prematurity and low birth weight. These effects may be mediated by altered placental function. We hypothesized that placental function would be influenced by the gestational week of experiencing depressive symptoms and aimed to examine associations between maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and placental expression of genes involved in glucocorticoid and serotonin transfer between mother and fetus.MethodWe studied women participating in a prospective pregnancy cohort: the Prediction and Prevention of Preeclampsia (PREDO) Study, Helsinki, Finland. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed at 2-week intervals throughout pregnancy in 56 healthy women with singleton, term pregnancies. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptors and serotonin transporter (SLC6A4), 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD1) and 2 (HSD2) were quantified in placental biopsies.ResultsIn adjusted analyses women who reported higher depressive symptoms across the whole pregnancy had higher mRNA levels of GR [effect size 0.31 s.d. units, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01–0.60, p = 0.042] and MR (effect size 0.34 s.d. units, 95% CI 0.01–0.68, p = 0.047). These effects were significant for symptoms experienced in the third trimester of pregnancy for GR; findings for MR were also significant for symptoms experienced in the second trimester. GR and MR mRNA levels increased linearly by having the trimester-specific depressive symptoms scores 0, 1 or 2–3 times above the clinical cut-off for depression (p = 0.003, p = 0.049, respectively, and p = 0.004, p = 0.15 in adjusted analyses).ConclusionsOur findings offer potential gestational-age-specific mechanisms linking maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy via placental biology. Future studies will test whether these also link with adverse offspring outcomes.

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Maternal Depression Is Associated with Adaptive Skill Deficits of Children with Sickle Cell Disease through Parenting Practices.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.1397.1397 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. 1397-1397

Author(s):

Jennifer J Macdonald ◽

Jennifer Rees ◽

Gene H. Brody ◽

Man-Kit Lei ◽

Yi-fu Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Research Funding ◽

Adaptive Skills ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Cell Disease

Abstract Abstract 1397 Poster Board I-419 Background: Caregivers of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have high levels of stress and depression. Students with SCD have a higher prevalence of behavioral and cognitive deficits compared to healthy students. Adaptive skills are particularly important for children with chronic disease because they are the skills needed to transition into independent adulthood. We hypothesize that (1) Maternal depressive symptoms are associated with decreased adaptive skills in children with SCD, and (2) This association will be mediated by the association between maternal depression and the provision of lower levels of competence promoting parenting. Methods: We completed a cross-sectional analysis of a single center prospective cohort study. Adaptive skills of children with SCD were assessed by parent report of the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). The BASC reflects the child's adaptive skills by 5 key adaptive scales: adaptability, activities of daily living, functional communication, social skills, and leadership. Maternal risk for depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). We completed structured interviews of the mothers to assess parenting quality. Effective parenting was characterized by high levels of support, involvement, monitoring, and low levels of ongoing conflict. A path analysis using ordinary least squares was used for statistical analysis. Results: 48 children with SCD and their mothers were evaluated. 52% of the children were male; mean age was 12 yrs (Range 6-16). 25% of the children repeated a grade level in school. The mothers' mean age was 38 yrs (Range 27-59) and the average yearly household income per capita was $7,133 (Range 708- 22,800). 60% of the children received healthcare via Medicaid. 20% of the mothers were at risk for depression.12.5% of the children had clinically significant deficits in adaptive skills and18.8% of the children were considered “at risk.” There was a moderate correlation between maternal depression and child adaptive skills (r = .481, p=.01). A path analysis revealed that in the presence of parenting, the association between maternal depression and child adaptive skills is no longer significant. The effect of maternal depression is mediated by depression induced decrements in competence promoting parenting practices (Fig. 1). Medicaid was associated with higher maternal depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Our preliminary data provide direct evidence that maternal depression is associated with proximal parenting practices that are associated with child adaptive skills. Parenting practices can be modified through education and family support and serve as a potential intervention target for moderating the effects of maternal depression on child adaptive skills in this vulnerable population. Maternal depressive symptoms have a negative association with proximal parenting processes that are linked to adaptive skills in children with SCD. Stronger parenting indices are associated with better adaptive skills. In the presence of parenting, the direct association between maternal depression and adaptive skills is no longer significant. Disclosures: Brody: NIH: Research Funding. White: NIH: Research Funding. King: NIH-NHLBI: Research Funding; Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Research Funding.

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The Timing of Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Mothers' Parenting Practices With Young Children: Implications for Pediatric Practice

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2005-1551 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 118 (1) ◽

pp. e174-e182 ◽

Cited By ~ 118

Author(s):

K. T. McLearn ◽

C. S. Minkovitz ◽

D. M. Strobino ◽

E. Marks ◽

W. Hou

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Young Children ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Pediatric Practice

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Optimism and pessimism in children: A study of parenting correlates

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1080/01650250114300003 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 185-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Naheed Hasan ◽

Thomas G. Power

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Control Structure ◽

Community Sample ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Multiple Regressions ◽

Autonomy Granting ◽

Parenting Dimensions

The present study investigated the relation between mothers’ generalised expectancies, mothers’ self-reported parenting practices, and their children’s optimism, pessimism, and depressive symptoms. A community sample of 81 children, 8–12 years old, and their mothers participated. Questionnaires were used to assess four parenting dimensions (control, structure, support, and autonomy granting), as well as mothers’ and children’s optimism, pessimism, and depressive symptoms. Results showed that maternal pessimism correlated with child pessimism, and that maternal depressive symptoms correlated negatively with child optimism. Multiple regressions indicated that mothers who were moderately controlling had children who showed the most optimism, whereas those who allowed their children little autonomy in problem solving had children with the highest level of depressive symptoms.

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The Associations between maternal depressive symptoms and parenting practices among low income head start eligible families

Social Work in Mental Health ◽

10.1080/15332985.2021.1999365 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Kyunghee Lee ◽

Taylor Hunter

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Head Start ◽

Low Income ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms

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Interpersonal violence during pregnancy: Enduring effects in the post-partum period and implications for the intergenerational transmission of risk

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025418780358 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 195-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Laura E. Miller-Graff ◽

Amy K. Nuttall ◽

Jennifer E. B. Lefever

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Interpersonal Violence ◽

Post Partum ◽

Behavioral Adjustment ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Transition To Motherhood ◽

Responsive Behavior ◽

Violence During Pregnancy ◽

Risk Of Exposure

Women are at greater risk of exposure to interpersonal violence during pregnancy. The influence prenatal violence has on children’s behavioral adjustment is generally understood to stem from its impact on mothers, but there is a dearth of prospective research to test these models. The current study evaluated the influence of interpersonal violence during pregnancy on children’s behavioral adjustment in toddlerhood through the mother’s mental health and parenting in infancy. Data were drawn from a longitudinal study on the transition to motherhood ( N = 682). Mothers reported on their experiences of violence during pregnancy, depression at 6 months, and their children’s behavior at 24 months. Warm, responsive behavior was coded at 8 months. Prenatal experiences of violence predicted toddlers’ aggression/defiance toward mothers through maternal depressive symptoms and parenting in infancy. There were no effects on the toddlers’ aggression toward their peers. Interpersonal violence in pregnancy was linked to aggression/defiance toward mothers in early childhood via cascading negative effects on maternal depressive symptoms and parenting.

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A longitudinal analysis of maternal depressive symptoms and children's food consumption and weight outcomes

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980013003376 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 2759-2768 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Taryn W Morrissey ◽

Rada K Dagher

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Food Consumption ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

College Degrees ◽

Weight Outcomes ◽

The Usa

AbstractObjectiveMaternal depressive symptoms negatively impact mothers’ parenting practices and children's development, but the evidence linking these symptoms to children's obesity is mixed.DesignWe use a large sample to examine contemporaneous and lagged associations between maternal depressive symptoms and children's BMI, obesity and food consumption, controlling for background characteristics.SettingData from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), a longitudinal study of children from infancy through kindergarten in the USA, were collected at four waves from 2001 to 2007, when children were 9 months, 2 years, 4 years and 5½years of age, through surveys, child assessments and observations.SubjectsA sub-sample of children from the ECLS-B is used (n6500).ResultsBetween 17 % and 19 % of mothers reported experiencing depressive symptoms; 17 % to 20 % of children were obese. Maternal depressive symptoms were associated with a small decrease in the likelihood her child was obese (0·8 percentage points) and with lower consumption of healthy foods. The duration of maternal depressive symptoms was associated with higher BMI (0·02sd) among children whose parents lacked college degrees.ConclusionsResults indicate that mothers’ depressive symptoms have small associations with children's food consumption and obesity. Among children whose parents lack college degrees, persistent maternal depressive symptoms are associated with slightly higher child BMI. Findings highlight the need to control for depression in analyses of children's weight. Interventions that consider maternal depression early may be useful in promoting healthy weight outcomes and eating habits among children.

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