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

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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Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Their Association with Breastfeeding and Child Weight Outcomes

Children ◽

10.3390/children8030233 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 233

Author(s):

María Pineros-Leano ◽

Jaclyn A. Saltzman ◽

Janet M. Liechty ◽

Salma Musaad ◽

Liliana Aguayo

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Body Mass ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Physical Growth ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Developmental Problems ◽

Child Weight ◽

Child Body Mass Index ◽

Weight Outcomes

Children of mothers with depressive symptoms are at a higher risk for psychosocial, behavioral, and developmental problems. However, the effects of maternal depression on children’s physical growth are not well understood. To address the gaps in the literature, this study examined the association between maternal depressive symptoms, breastfeeding behaviors, and child weight outcomes. Data from 204 mother–child dyads who participated in the STRONG Kids 1 Study were used. Mothers and children were assessed twice when the children were 3 and 4 years old. Height and weight measurements of children and mothers were collected by trained researchers during both assessments. Multiple linear regression and analysis of covariance tests were used to examine the associations between maternal depressive symptoms, breastfeeding, and age and sex-adjusted child body mass index percentile. Recurrent maternal depressive symptoms when the child was 3 and 4 years old were not associated with child body mass index percentiles (BMI-P) at age 4. Mothers who breastfed for at least 6 months had significantly lower depressive symptoms when their children were 3 years of age, but the differences did not persist at age 4. In this community sample, maternal depressive symptoms were not associated with child BMI-P, regardless of breastfeeding duration.

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

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine ◽

10.1001/archpedi.160.3.279 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 160 (3) ◽

pp. 279 ◽

Cited By ~ 173

Author(s):

Kathryn Taaffe McLearn ◽

Cynthia S. Minkovitz ◽

Donna M. Strobino ◽

Elisabeth Marks ◽

William Hou

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Post Partum ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Early Parenting

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The link between infant regulatory problems, temperament traits, maternal depressive symptoms and children’s psychopathological symptoms at age three: a longitudinal study in a German at-risk sample

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health ◽

10.1186/s13034-017-0148-5 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Anna Sidor ◽

Cristina Fischer ◽

Manfred Cierpka

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Psychopathological Symptoms ◽

Temperament Traits ◽

Regulatory Problems

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The stable component of maternal depressive symptoms predicts offspring emotional and behavioral symptoms: a 9-years longitudinal study

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-020-00496-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

L. Cerniglia ◽

F. Dentale ◽

R. Tambelli ◽

L. Murray ◽

P. Cooper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Child Behaviour ◽

Behavioral Functioning ◽

Behavioral Symptoms ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Check List ◽

Stable Component ◽

Wide Range ◽

Symptom Check List

Abstract Background Maternal sub-threshold and non-clinical depression and its possible outcomes on offspring internalizing/externalizing symptoms has received growing attention in recent years because of its significant worldwide prevalence. Methods Through a Latent State-Trait Analysis approach (LST), this longitudinal study aimed to identify a stable component of non-clinical maternal depression across a temporal interval of 6 years (measured through the Symptom Check-List-90/R) and to determine the effect of this component on children’s emotional and behavioral functioning (measured through the Child Behaviour Check-List) at age 12 years. Results LST analysis showed that maternal depressive symptoms tended to remain stable within individuals across 6 years of observation strongly contributing to children’s internalizing/externalizing and dysregulation symptoms. Conclusions The current longitudinal analysis of maternal and child data revealed that a stable component of maternal depressive symptoms reliably predicted a wide range of child emotional and behavioral symptoms at 12 years of age.

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Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Parenting Practices 3-Months Postpartum

Maternal and Child Health Journal ◽

10.1007/s10995-014-1625-6 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 1212-1219 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Amy Balbierz ◽

Susan Bodnar-Deren ◽

Jason J. Wang ◽

Elizabeth A. Howell

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Parenting Practices ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms

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A prospective longitudinal study of the impact of early postnatal vs. chronic maternal depressive symptoms on child development

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.05.004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 484-489 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

A.-L. Sutter-Dallay ◽

L. Murray ◽

L. Dequae-Merchadou ◽

E. Glatigny-Dallay ◽

M.-L. Bourgeois ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Child Development ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽

Postnatal Depressive Symptoms ◽

Prospective Longitudinal ◽

The Impact

AbstractBackgroundFew studies of the effects of postnatal depression on child development have considered the chronicity of depressive symptoms. We investigated whether early postnatal depressive symptoms (PNDS) predicted child developmental outcome independently of later maternal depressive symptoms.MethodsIn a prospective, longitudinal study, mothers and children were followed-up from birth to 2 years; repeated measures of PNDS were made using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); child development was assessed using the Bayley Scales II. Multilevel modelling techniques were used to examine the association between 6 week PNDS, and child development, taking subsequent depressive symptoms into account.ResultsChildren of mothers with 6 week PNDS were significantly more likely than children of non-symptomatic mothers to have poor cognitive outcome; however, this association was reduced to trend level when adjusted for later maternal depressive symptoms.ConclusionEffects of early PNDS on infant development may be partly explained by subsequent depressive symptoms.

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