Maternal anxiety symptoms associated with increased behavioral synchrony in the early postnatal period

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Lemus ◽  
Sarah C Vogel ◽  
Ashley Greaves ◽  
Natalie Hiromi Brito
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Early Postnatal Period ◽  
Maternal Anxiety ◽  
Parent Child Interactions ◽  
Behavioral Synchrony

The presence of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) has typically been associated with decreases in the quality of mother-infant interactions. However, maternal anxiety symptoms during the postpartum period have been less studied than other mental health disorders like depression. In the current study we examined associations among symptoms of maternal anxiety, maternal perceived stress, and mother-infant behavioral synchrony in the early postnatal period. Eighty one mother-infant dyads participated in this study when the infants were 3 months old. Surveys were given to obtain demographic information and current maternal mental health symptoms, and dyads completed a 5-minute free play task to measure behavioral synchrony. Results indicated that maternal anxiety symptoms were positively associated with behavioral synchrony, but only for mothers reporting moderate levels of perceived stress. These findings highlight the differential impact of maternal postpartum mental health on behavioral synchrony and suggest that higher maternal anxiety symptoms during the postnatal period may play an adaptive role in fostering more dynamic parent-child interactions.

scholarly journals Maternal Anxiety Symptoms and Self-Regulation Capacity Are Associated With the Unpredictability of Maternal Sensory Signals in Caregiving Behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eeva Holmberg ◽  
Taija Teppola ◽  
Marjukka Pajulo ◽  
Elysia Poggi Davis ◽  
Saara Nolvi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Maternal Anxiety ◽  
Sensory Signals ◽  
Infant Neurodevelopment

The unpredictability of maternal sensory signals in caregiving behavior has been recently found to be linked with infant neurodevelopment. The research area is new, and very little is yet known, how maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms and specific parental characteristics relate to the unpredictable maternal care. The aims of the current study were to explore how pre- and postnatal maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms and self-regulation capacity associate with the unpredictability of maternal sensory signals. The study population consisted of 177 mother-infant dyads. The unpredictability of the maternal sensory signals was explored from the video-recorded mother-infant free play situation when the infant was 8 months of age. Pre- and postnatal anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured by questionnaires prenatally at gwks 14, 24, 34, and 3 and 6 months postpartum. Maternal self-regulation capacity, a trait considered to be stable in adulthood, was assessed using adult temperament questionnaire when the infant was 12 months of age. We found that elevated prenatal maternal anxiety symptoms associated with higher unpredictability in the maternal care while depressive symptoms were unrelated to the unpredictability of maternal care. Moreover, the association was moderated by maternal self-regulation capacity, as higher anxiety symptoms during pre-and postnatal period were associated more unpredictability among the mothers with low self-regulation capacity. The combination of higher amount of maternal anxiety symptoms and lower self-regulation capacity seems to constitute specific risk for the unpredictable maternal care.

scholarly journals Brief screening for maternal mental health in Vietnam: Measures of positive wellbeing and perceived stress predict prenatal and postnatal depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 100047
Author(s):  
Huyen Phuc Do ◽  
Philip RA Baker ◽  
Thang Van Vo ◽  
Bao-Yen Luong-Thanh ◽  
Lan Hoang Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Postnatal Depression ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Brief Screening

scholarly journals Maternal stress and depressive symptoms and adolescents’ body mass index: a prospective study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maaike Koning ◽  
Jacqueline Vink ◽  
Tommy L. S. Visscher ◽  
Junilla Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
General Stress ◽  
Adolescent Offspring

Abstract Background Growing evidence suggests that maternal mental health issues are associated with (young) children’s weight outcomes. However, most studies have been limited by cross-sectional designs and have been aimed at (younger) children. The current prospective study focuses on the link between maternal mental health (i.e., psychological stress and depressive symptoms) and adolescents’ zBMI development. Methods The participants in the present study were part of wave 1 and 2 of a longitudinal study on Dutch adolescents’ and their parents’ health behavior. Adolescents (aged 10–14) and their parents were recruited through six secondary schools in the South and the East of the Netherlands. For this study, we only included biological mothers and their adolescent children who participated in both waves, with data on the main measures in both waves, leaving a final sample of 336 biological mother-child dyads. Adolescents height and weight were measured, and both parents and adolescents filled in validated questionnaires on perceived stress and depressive symptoms and answered additional questions concerning domain-specific stress. Regression analyses were performed in R to examine longitudinal links between maternal stress and depressive symptoms at baseline (T1) and adolescents’ BMI standard deviation scores (zBMI) 6 months later (T2), corrected for baseline zBMI and covariates. Results Maternal general perceived stress (β = .20, p = .002) at T1 preceded higher adolescents’ zBMI at T2, after controlling for baseline zBMI and other covariates, whereas maternal depressive symptoms at T1 (β = −.05, p = .44) and other domain-specific stress did not (maternal financial stress, maternal stress at work, maternal stress at home). Additionally, lower educational level among adolescents (β = .16, p = .001) and adolescent depressive symptoms (β = .16, p = .001) was associated with a higher zBMI at T2. Conclusions Results suggest that maternal general stress, but not depressive symptoms, may influence adolescents’ weight development. Our findings warrant future investigation on whether and how general stress among mothers may predict weight increases of their adolescent offspring.

scholarly journals When the Bough Breaks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mental Health Symptoms in Mothers of Young Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Racine ◽  
Rachel Eirich ◽  
Jessica Cookee ◽  
Jenney Zhu ◽  
Paolo Pador ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Study Quality ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Meta Analyses

Parents have experienced considerable challenges and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may impact their well-being. This meta-analysis sought to identify: 1) the prevalence of depression and anxiety in parents of young children (< age 5) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) sociodemographic (e.g., parent age, minority status) and methodological moderators (e.g., study quality) that explain heterogeneity among studies. A systematic search was conducted across four databases from January 1st, 2020 to March 3st, 2021. A total of 18 non-overlapping studies (9,101 participants), all focused on maternal mental health, met inclusion criteria. Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted. Pooled prevalence estimates for clinically significant depression and anxiety symptoms for mothers of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic were 27.4% (95% CI: 21.5-34.3) and 43.5% (95% CI:27.5-60.9), respectively. Prevalence of clinically elevated depression and anxiety symptoms were higher in Europe and North America and among older mothers. Clinically elevated depressive symptoms were lower in studies with a higher percentage of racial and ethnic minority individuals. In comparison, clinically elevated anxiety symptoms were higher among studies of low study quality and in samples with highly educated mothers. Policies and resources targeting improvements in maternal mental health are essential.

scholarly journals Mental health issues in pregnant women in Nepal

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-501
Author(s):  
Edwin Van Teijlingen ◽  
Padam Simkhada ◽  
Bhimsen Devkota ◽  
Padmadharini Fanning ◽  
Jillian Ireland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Area Of Concern ◽  
The Uk

Mental health of pregnant women and new mothers is a growing area of concern in both low- and high-income countries. Maternity services in the UK, for example, have focused more attention on maternal mental health. We recognise that pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period is a time of major psychological and social change for women.

scholarly journals Maternal stress and depressive symptoms and adolescents’ body mass index: A prospective study.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maaike Koning ◽  
Jacqueline Vink ◽  
Tommy L.S. Visscher ◽  
Junilla Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
General Stress ◽  
Adolescent Offspring

Abstract Background Growing evidence suggests that maternal mental health issues are associated with (young) children’s weight outcomes. However, most studies have been limited by cross-sectional designs and have been aimed at (younger) children. The current prospective study focuses on the link between maternal mental health (i.e., psychological stress and depressive symptoms) and adolescents’ zBMI development.Methods The participants in the present study were part of wave 1 and 2 of a longitudinal study on Dutch adolescents’ and their parents’ health behavior. Adolescents (aged 10-14) and their parents were recruited through six secondary schools in the South and the East of the Netherlands. For this study, we only included biological mothers and their adolescent children who participated in both waves, with data on the main measures on both waves, leaving a final sample of 336 biological mother child dyads. Adolescents height and weight were measured, and both parents and adolescents filled in validated questionnaires on perceived stress and depressive symptoms and answered additional questions concerning domain-specific stress. Regression analyses were performed in R to examine longitudinal links between maternal stress and depressive symptoms at baseline (T1) and adolescents’ BMI standard deviation scores (zBMI) 6 months later (T2), corrected for baseline zBMI and covariates. Results Maternal general perceived stress (b=.20, p =.002) at T1 preceded higher adolescents’ zBMI at T2, after controlling for baseline zBMI and other covariates, whereas maternal depressive symptoms at T1 (b=-.05, p =.44) and other domain-specific stress did not (maternal financial stress, maternal stress at work, maternal stress at home). Additionally, lower educational level among adolescents (b = .16, p = .001) and adolescent depressive symptoms (b = .16, p = .001) was associated with a higher zBMI at T2. Conclusions Results suggest that maternal general stress, but not depressive symptoms, may influence adolescents’ weight development. Our findings warrant future investigation on whether and how general stress among mothers may predict weight increases of their adolescent offspring.

scholarly journals Mental health condition of college students compared to non-students during COVID-19 lockdown: the CONFINS study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e053231
Author(s):  
Julie Arsandaux ◽  
Ilaria Montagni ◽  
Mélissa Macalli ◽  
Nathalie Texier ◽  
Mathilde Pouriel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Mental Health Condition ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts

ObjectivesTo estimate the effect of student status on mental health condition during COVID-19 general lockdown in France.DesignCross-sectional analysis comparing students and non-students recruited in the same study.SettingParticipants of the web-based CONFINS study implemented during the general lockdown in France in spring 2020.Participants2260 participants (78% women) including 1335 students (59%).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThrough an online questionnaire, participants declared if they have experienced suicidal thoughts, coded their perceived stress on a 10-points scale and completed validated mental health scales (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depressive symptoms, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety symptoms) during the last 7 days. The effect of college student status on each mental health condition was estimated using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Stratified models for students and non-students were performed to identify population-specific factors.ResultsStudent status was associated with a higher frequency of depressive symptoms (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.58; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.14), anxiety symptoms (aOR=1.51; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.07), perceived stress (n=1919, aOR=1.70, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.29) and suicidal thoughts (n=1919, aOR=1.57, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.53). Lockdown conditions that could be potentially aggravating on mental health like isolation had a higher impact on students than on non-students.ConclusionsCollege students were at higher risk of mental health disturbances during lockdown than non-students, even after taking into account several potential confounding factors. A close follow-up and monitoring of students’ mental health status is warranted during lockdown periods in this vulnerable population.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among International Medical Students in China During COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu-Lu Yuan ◽  
Lu Lu ◽  
Xue-Hang Wang ◽  
Xiao-Xi Guo ◽  
Hong Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Coping Style ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
International Medical ◽  
Place Of Residence ◽  
Negative Coping

Background: The rapid spread of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) infection has been the most important public health crisis across the globe since the end of 2019. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems among people during the pandemic, and many studies have reported anxiety and depressive symptoms in college students. However, information on the mental health status of international medical students during this critical period of time has been scarce, which hinders the efforts in making proper policy or strategies to help these students. The present study aims to explore the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in international medical students in China and to find out the factors that have potential predictive value for anxiety and depressive symptoms.Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out for international medical students during November 2020 at China Medical University in Shenyang, China. Five hundred and nineteen international students were interviewed with questionnaires containing demographic variables, Stressors in school, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) and Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14). Univariate logistic regression and stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted where appropriate to explore the predictive factors of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms.Results: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms in the sample population was 28.5% (148/519) and 31.6% (164/519), respectively. Stressors in school (β = 0.176, OR = 1.192, CI: 1.102–1.289), negative coping style (β = 0.639, OR = 1.894, CI: 1.287–2.788) and perceived stress (β = 0.230, OR = 1.258, CI: 1.184–1.337) were found to be the predictors of anxiety symptoms among the international medical students; while gender (β = −0.594, OR = 0.552, CI: 0.315–0.968), stay up late (β = 0.828, OR = 2.288, CI: 1.182–4.431), current place of residence (β = 1.082, OR = 2.951, CI: 1.256–6.931), stressors in the school (β = 0.303, OR = 1.354, CI: 1.266–1.496), negative coping style (β = 0.866, OR = 2.377, CI: 1.516–3.725), perceived stress (β = 0.233, OR = 1.262, CI: 1.180–1.351) were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms.Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms was moderate among international medical students in China. The communal predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms were stressors in school, negative coping style and perceived stress; while demographic factors such as gender (male), stay up late at night and current place of residence were found associated with depressive symptoms. These results suggest that proper stress management and specific interventions are needed to help students maintain their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

scholarly journals Higher risk of mental health deterioration during the Covid-19 lockdown among students rather than non-students. The French Confins study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Arsandaux ◽  
Ilaria Montagni ◽  
Mélissa Macalli ◽  
Nathalie Texier ◽  
Mathilde Pouriel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
History Of ◽  
Set Up

ABSTRACTBackgroundCovid-19 pandemic and its consequences have raised fears of its psychological impact. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of student status on mental health conditions during Covid-19 general lockdown among adults in France.MethodsUsing cross-sectional data of the Confins cohort, we estimated the effect of student status on depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicidal thoughts and perceived stress using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Stratified models for college students and non- students were performed to identify associated population-specific factors.ResultsAmong the 2260 included participants, students represented 59% (n=1335 vs 925 non- students) and 78% of the total sample were female. Student status was more frequently associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted OR(aOR)=1.58; 95%CI 1.17;2.14), anxiety symptoms (aOR=1.51; 95%CI 1.10;2.07), perceived stress (n=1919, aOR=1.70, 95%CI 1.26;2.29) and frequent suicidal thoughts (n=1919, aOR=1.57, 95%CI 0.97;2.53). Lockdown conditions that could be potentially aggravating on mental health like isolation had a higher impact on students than non-students.LimitationsParticipants were volunteers, which could limit generalisation of the findings. The cross-sectional design did not allow determining if lockdown impacted directly mental health or if there is another cause. However, we adjusted analyses with the history of psychiatric disorders, and factors related to lockdown conditions were associated with mental health disturbances.ConclusionsCollege student’s mental health is of great importance in the context of the general lockdown set up during the pandemic. Follow-up and interventions should be implemented especially for those at high-risk (younger people and those with history of psychiatric disorders).

scholarly journals Maternal anxiety in the pre- and postnatal period: a literature review

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 677-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Leonetti Correia ◽  
Maria Beatriz Martins Linhares
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Fetal Development ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Maternal Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Term Births

This study intended to present a systematic review to analyze the empirical studies published between 1998 and 2003 about maternal anxiety in the prenatal and postnatal periods, focusing on pre-term and term births. Nineteen studies were found; six of which evaluated maternal anxiety in the prenatal period, 12 studies evaluated anxiety in mothers in the postnatal period and only one study evaluated maternal anxiety in both periods. The results showed that high levels of maternal anxiety in the prenatal phase were associated with obstetric problems, emotional damages to fetal development, behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence. The mothers presented higher anxiety levels when compared with the fathers. The co-occurrence of maternal anxiety and depression was found. The maternal anxiety assessment is relevant to identify both maternal mental health and child development at risk.

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