Negative Affect in Offspring of Depressed Mothers Is Predicted by Infant Cortisol Levels at 6 Months and Maternal Depression during Pregnancy, but Not Postpartum

2004 ◽  
Vol 1032 (1) ◽  
pp. 234-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L HUOT ◽  
P A BRENNAN ◽  
Z N STOWE ◽  
P M PLOTSKY ◽  
E F WALKER
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Depressed Mothers ◽  
Cortisol Levels

scholarly journals Infant emotion regulation strategy moderates the relation between maternal depressive symptomatology and infant HPA-Axis regulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Khoury
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Strange Situation ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Regulation ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategy ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
Depressed Mothers ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Children of depressed mothers often have atypical cortisol levels. Child characteristics associated with emotion regulation difficulties moderate associations between maternal depression and child hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity. We hypothesize that infants of more depressed mothers who utilize more independent emotion regulation will have higher cortisol levels. Mother-infant dyads (N = 193) were recruited from the community. Maternal depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory II, infant regulation strategies were coded during a Toy Frustration Task, and cortisol was collected at baseline, 20, and 40 minutes after two challenges (Toy Frustration and Strange Situation). Results indicate that infant emotion regulation moderates associations between maternal depressive symptoms and infant total cortisol output (AUCG) and cortisol reactivity (AUCI), during the Toy Frustration task. Infants who used more independent regulation had elevated cortisol secretion. Associations were not replicated during the Strange Situation procedure. Findings are discussed in terms of adaptive emotional and physiological regulation.

Stress hormone levels of children of depressed mothers

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHARON B. ASHMAN ◽  
GERALDINE DAWSON ◽  
HERACLES PANAGIOTIDES ◽  
EMILY YAMADA ◽  
CHARLES W. WILKINSON
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Baseline Cortisol ◽  
History Of ◽  
Depressed Mothers ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
History Of Depression ◽  
Laboratory Stressor

Research suggests that disruptions in early caretaking can have long-term effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which mediates the stress response. Children of depressed mothers are at increased risk for developing internalizing problems in part because of disruptions in their caretaking environment. The present study investigated whether children of depressed mothers exhibit elevated salivary cortisol levels. Salivary cortisol samples were collected from 45 7- to 8-year-old children of mothers with a history of depression and 29 children of nondepressed mothers. Samples were collected soon after arrival to the laboratory and after a mild laboratory stressor and at home after wakeup and before bedtime. Children who had elevated levels of internalizing symptoms and whose mothers had a history of depression showed elevated laboratory baseline cortisol levels. Children who were reported to have clinically significant internalizing symptoms were also more likely to show an elevated stress response to a mild laboratory stressor. When the longitudinal history of maternal depression was examined, maternal depression during the child's first 2 years of life was the best predictor of elevations in baseline cortisol at age 7 years. This study provides evidence that internalizing symptoms exist in conjunction with a more reactive hormonal stress system in children of depressed mothers. The results also provide preliminary evidence that exposure to maternal depression in the first 2 years of life may be related to children's cortisol levels later in life.

scholarly journals Infant emotion regulation strategy moderates the relation between maternal depressive symptomatology and infant HPA-Axis regulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Khoury
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Depressive Symptomatology ◽  
Strange Situation ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Regulation ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategy ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
Depressed Mothers ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Children of depressed mothers often have atypical cortisol levels. Child characteristics associated with emotion regulation difficulties moderate associations between maternal depression and child hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity. We hypothesize that infants of more depressed mothers who utilize more independent emotion regulation will have higher cortisol levels. Mother-infant dyads (N = 193) were recruited from the community. Maternal depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory II, infant regulation strategies were coded during a Toy Frustration Task, and cortisol was collected at baseline, 20, and 40 minutes after two challenges (Toy Frustration and Strange Situation). Results indicate that infant emotion regulation moderates associations between maternal depressive symptoms and infant total cortisol output (AUCG) and cortisol reactivity (AUCI), during the Toy Frustration task. Infants who used more independent regulation had elevated cortisol secretion. Associations were not replicated during the Strange Situation procedure. Findings are discussed in terms of adaptive emotional and physiological regulation.

Maternal depressive disorder and contextual risk: Contributions to the development of attachment insecurity and behavior problems in toddlerhood

1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANTE CICCHETTI ◽  
FRED A. ROGOSCH ◽  
SHEREE L. TOTH
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Problems ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Child Behavior ◽  
Child Behavior Problems ◽  
Contextual Risk ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Depressed Mothers ◽  
And Behavior

Research has shown that offspring of depressed caregivers are at increased risk for maladaptive development and emotional difficulties. Specifically, infants and toddlers of depressed mothers have been shown to evidence higher percentages of insecure attachments and more behavioral difficulties than offspring of nondisordered mothers. However, even in studies that reveal significant differences between children of depressed and nondepressed caregivers, a substantial number of children with depressed caregivers do not evidence dysfunction. Such findings have resulted in increased attention to the broader social context in which children of depressed mothers develop. This investigation examined the direct influences of maternal depression on child development, as well as the role of contextual risks that may be particularly heightened in families with depressed parents. Toddlers with depressed mothers evidenced significantly more insecure attachments than did toddlers with nondisordered mothers, and this difference was not accounted for by contextual risk. In predicting child behavior problems, contextual risk was found to mediate the relation between maternal depression and child behavior problems. Father-report data on child behavior corroborated the mother report data. Results are discussed in terms of the diversity of functioning in offspring of depressed caregivers that can be attributed to varied levels of contextual risk accompanying depression.

Depressed mothers’ infants show less negative affect during non-contingent interactions

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Field ◽  
Jacqueline Nadel ◽  
Maria Hernandez-Reif ◽  
Miguel Diego ◽  
Yanexy Vera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Depressed Mothers

scholarly journals Family life stress, maternal depression and child behavioral health in industrialized Italian cities

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Bansal ◽  
S Renzetti ◽  
N Xhani ◽  
G Cagna ◽  
M Conversano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Internalizing Problems ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Maternal Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Italian Version ◽  
Depressed Mothers

Abstract Although family life stress adversely impacts child health, few tools measure its relationship to child outcomes in the setting of maternal variables. This study validates the Italian version of Crisis in Family Systems-Revised (CRISYS-R) and characterizes relationships between family life stress, maternal depression and child behavior in two Italian cities. This cross-sectional study was nested in current research on health impacts of neurotoxic environmental exposures in children. 101 mother-child pairs (child age=9.91±2.17yrs; 53% female) and children's teachers were enrolled in Taranto (south Italy) and Brescia (north Italy). Mothers performed the Italian CRISYS-R and PHQ9; teachers completed Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18). Spearman's rank correlation coefficients showed associations of family CRISYS-R, maternal PHQ9 and child CBCL/6-18. Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test compared groups of continuous variables. Mothers with depressive symptoms (PHQ9≥5) reported higher ongoing stress and proportion of negative stressors on CRISYS-R than non-depressed mothers (p < 0.05). Children of depressed mothers performed worse in all CBCL/6-18 domains: Internalizing Problems, Externalizing Problems and Total Problems (p < 0.01). Specifically, children of depressed mothers scored higher on subscales of Anxious-Depressed (p < 0.05), Withdrawn-Depressed (p < 0.01), Rule-Breaking (p < 0.01) and Aggressive Behavior (p < 0.05). Maternal depressive symptoms correlated with ongoing stress (rs = 0.27; p < 0.01), child Internalizing Problems (rs = 0.34; p < 0.001), Externalizing Problems (rs = 0.28; p < 0.01) and Total Problems (rs = 0.35; p < 0.001). This study describes links among maternal depression, family life stress, and child behavioral health. It is first to validate Italian CRISYS-R and to explore these factors conjointly in Italian contexts with known neurotoxic exposures. Findings support considering maternal depression and family life stress in child behavioral and environmental health research and policy. Key messages Family life stress, maternal depressive symptoms, and preadolescent behavioral health were highly interrelated in two industrialized Italian cities. The Italian version of CRISYS-R is a useful instrument for assessing and understanding family life stress, a crucial yet under-explored contributor to child behavioral health outcomes.

scholarly journals Effect of Polyphenol-Rich Dark Chocolate on Salivary Cortisol and Mood in Adults

Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Tsang ◽  
Lindsay Hodgson ◽  
Anna Bussu ◽  
Grace Farhat ◽  
Emad Al-Dujaili
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Dark Chocolate ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Cortisol Levels

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ingestion of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate improved salivary cortisol levels and subjective mood states in adults recruited from a health and social care setting. Twenty-six participants ingested 25 g/day of a high polyphenol dark chocolate (containing 500 mg of total flavonoids) or a similar amount of a control dark chocolate containing negligible flavonoids for four weeks. Twenty-four-hour salivary glucocorticoid levels (cortisol and cortisone) were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and subjective mood was assessed using a validated Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule. Total daily cortisol, morning cortisol, and the cortisol/cortisone ratio were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) after ingestion of only the high polyphenol dark chocolate. There were no significant differences between groups for overall scores for positive affect and negative affect. No changes were observed after the control dark chocolate, or any other parameter measured. In conclusion, the findings from this small-scale study indicate lowering of salivary cortisol levels following polyphenol-rich dark chocolate in adults recruited from a health and social care setting. Such changes may be attributable to their ability to inhibit 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity and warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Developmental cascade effects of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed mothers: Longitudinal associations with toddler attachment, temperament, and maternal parenting efficacy

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 601-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth D. Handley ◽  
Louisa C. Michl-Petzing ◽  
Fred A. Rogosch ◽  
Dante Cicchetti ◽  
Sheree L. Toth
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Interpersonal Psychotherapy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Parenting Efficacy ◽  
Positive Adaptation ◽  
Maternal Parenting ◽  
Depressed Mothers ◽  
Cascade Effects

AbstractUsing a developmental cascades framework, the current study investigated whether treating maternal depression via interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) may lead to more widespread positive adaptation for offspring and mothers including benefits to toddler attachment and temperament, and maternal parenting self-efficacy. The participants (N= 125 mother–child dyads; mean mother age at baseline = 25.43 years; 54.4% of mothers were African American; mean offspring age at baseline = 13.23 months) were from a randomized controlled trial of IPT for a sample of racially and ethnically diverse, socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers of infants. Mothers were randomized to IPT (n= 97) or an enhanced community standard control group (n= 28). The results of complier average causal effect modeling showed that engagement with IPT led to significant decreases in maternal depressive symptoms at posttreatment. Moreover, reductions in maternal depression posttreatment were associated with less toddler disorganized attachment characteristics, more adaptive maternal perceptions of toddler temperament, and improved maternal parenting efficacy 8 months following the completion of treatment. Our findings contribute to the emerging literature documenting the potential benefits to children of successfully treating maternal depression. Alleviating maternal depression appears to initiate a cascade of positive adaptation among both mothers and offspring, which may alter the well-documented risk trajectory for offspring of depressed mothers.

scholarly journals Relative impact of maternal depression and associated risk factors on offspring psychopathology

2012 ◽  
Vol 200 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward D. Barker ◽  
William Copeland ◽  
Barbara Maughan ◽  
Sara R. Jaffee ◽  
Rudolf Uher
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Clinically Depressed ◽  
Internalising Disorders ◽  
Depressed Mothers

BackgroundIn general, mothers with depression experience more environmental and family risk factors, and lead riskier lifestyles, than mothers who are not depressed.AimsTo test whether the exposure of a child to risk factors associated with mental health adds to the prediction of child psychopathology beyond exposure to maternal depression.MethodIn 7429 mother–offspring pairs participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in the UK, maternal depression was assessed when the children were aged 1.5 years; multiple risk factor exposures were examined between birth and 2 years of age; and DSM-IV-based externalising and internalising diagnoses were evaluated when the children were 7.5 years of age.ResultsChildren of clinically depressed mothers were exposed to more risk factors associated with maternal mental health. Maternal depression increased diagnoses of externalising and internalising disorders, but a substantial portion of these associations was explained by increased risk factor exposure (41% for externalising and 37% for internalising disorders). At the same time, these risk exposures significantly increased the odds of both externalising and internalising diagnoses, over and above the influence of maternal depression.ConclusionsChildren of clinically depressed mothers are exposed to both maternal psychopathology and risks that are associated with maternal mental health. These results may explain why treating mothers with depression shows beneficial effects for children, but does not completely neutralise the increased risk of psychopathology and impairment.

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