Grandparental support and maternal postpartum mental health: A review and meta-analysis

Purpose. Support from grandparents plays a role in mothers’ perinatal mental health. However, previous research on maternal mental health mainly focused on influences of partner support or general social support and neglected the roles of grandparents. In this narrative review and meta-analysis, the scientific evidence on the association between grandparental support and maternal perinatal mental health is reviewed. Methods. Searches in PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, and PsycINFO yielded 11 empirical studies on N = 3381 participants, reporting on 35 effect sizes. A multi-level approach to meta-analysis was applied to test the association between grandparental support and maternal mental health. Results. The results showed a small, statistically significant association (r = .16; 95% CI: 0.09 - 0.25). A moderator test indicated that the association was stronger for studies reporting on support from the maternal grandmother in particular (r = .23; 95% CI: 0.06 - 0.29). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that involved grandparents, in particular mother’s own mother, constitute a protective factor for the development of maternal postpartum mental health problems. These findings have clear implications for interventions. Future studies should examine whether stimulating high-quality support from grandparents is a fruitful avenue for enhancing maternal postpartum mental health.

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Maternal mental health and infant emotional reactivity: a 20-year two-cohort study of preconception and perinatal exposures

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291719000709 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 827-837 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Elizabeth Spry ◽

Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽

Denise Becker ◽

Helena Romaniuk ◽

John B. Carlin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Health Problems ◽

Prior Exposure ◽

Differential Sensitivity ◽

Perinatal Mental Health ◽

Pregnancy And Postpartum

AbstractBackgroundMaternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum predicts later emotional and behavioural problems in children. Even though most perinatal mental health problems begin before pregnancy, the consequences of preconception maternal mental health for children's early emotional development have not been prospectively studied.MethodsWe used data from two prospective Australian intergenerational cohorts, with 756 women assessed repeatedly for mental health problems before pregnancy between age 13 and 29 years, and during pregnancy and at 1 year postpartum for 1231 subsequent pregnancies. Offspring infant emotional reactivity, an early indicator of differential sensitivity denoting increased risk of emotional problems under adversity, was assessed at 1 year postpartum.ResultsThirty-seven percent of infants born to mothers with persistent preconception mental health problems were categorised as high in emotional reactivity, compared to 23% born to mothers without preconception history (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4–3.1). Ante- and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms were similarly associated with infant emotional reactivity, but these perinatal associations reduced somewhat after adjustment for prior exposure. Causal mediation analysis further showed that 88% of the preconception risk was a direct effect, not mediated by perinatal exposure.ConclusionsMaternal preconception mental health problems predict infant emotional reactivity, independently of maternal perinatal mental health; while associations between perinatal depressive symptoms and infant reactivity are partially explained by prior exposure. Findings suggest that processes shaping early vulnerability for later mental disorders arise well before conception. There is an emerging case for expanding developmental theories and trialling preventive interventions in the years before pregnancy.

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The Perinatal Mental Health of Indigenous Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0706743719877029 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 070674371987702 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sawayra Owais ◽

Mateusz Faltyn ◽

Ashley V. D. Johnson ◽

Chelsea Gabel ◽

Bernice Downey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Indigenous Women ◽

Perinatal Mental Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Increased Risk

Objective: Although Indigenous women are exposed to high rates of risk factors for perinatal mental health problems, the magnitude of their risk is not known. This lack of data impedes the development of appropriate screening and treatment protocols, as well as the proper allocation of resources for Indigenous women. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare rates of perinatal mental health problems among Indigenous and non-Indigenous women. Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science from their inceptions until February 2019. Studies were included if they assessed mental health in Indigenous women during pregnancy and/or up to 12 months postpartum. Results: Twenty-six articles met study inclusion criteria and 21 were eligible for meta-analysis. Indigenous identity was associated with higher odds of mental health problems (odds ratio [ OR] 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 2.11). Odds were higher still when analyses were restricted to problems of greater severity ( OR 1.95; 95% CI, 1.21 to 3.16) and young Indigenous women ( OR 1.86; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.28). Conclusion: Indigenous women are at increased risk of mental health problems during the perinatal period, particularly depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. However, resiliency among Indigenous women, cultural teachings, and methodological issues may be affecting estimates. Future research should utilize more representative samples, adapt and validate diagnostic and symptom measures for Indigenous groups, and engage Indigenous actors, leaders, and related allies to help improve the accuracy of estimates, as well as the well-being of Indigenous mothers, their families, and future generations. Trial Registration: PROSPERO-CRD42018108638.

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A meta-analysis examining the association between maternal perfectionism and perinatal depression and anxiety

10.31234/osf.io/2x8jr ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Clare Evans ◽

Jana Kreppner ◽

Peter J Lawrence

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Perinatal Depression ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Perinatal Mental Health ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Prior Review ◽

Mental Health Difficulties

Background: Perfectionism is an important feature of adult psychopathology. In the absence of a prior review of the role of perfectionism in perinatal psychopathology, we aimed to ascertain whether perfectionism was associated with symptoms of maternal perinatal depression and anxiety. Method: We followed PRISMA guidance (PROSPERO: 42019143369 ), estimated weighted effect sizes and tested possible moderators: timing (pre or post- natal), scales used to measure constructs, infant gender, temperament and age; and rated study quality. Results: 14 studies met eligibility criteria. Perfectionism as a whole, and the perfectionistic concerns dimension, were moderately correlated with common maternal perinatal mental health difficulties r= 0.32 (95% Confidence Interval = 0.23 to 0.41). In sub-group analyses, perfectionistic concerns were associated with depression (r=.35, 95% CI = 0.26 – 0.43). We found no evidence of significant moderation of associations. Limitations: Included studies had methodological and conceptual limitations. Studies inconsistently examined both perfectionistic concerns and strivings, nor anxiety as well as depression. Conclusions: Perfectionism, especially perfectionistic concerns, appears to be an important feature of common maternal perinatal mental health problems. While further research is warranted, screening and identification of perfectionism in the perinatal period may help focus resources for intervention, reducing the prevalence of perinatal mental health difficulties.

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Maternal mental health and infant emotional reactivity: a 20-year two-cohort study of preconception and perinatal exposures

10.31234/osf.io/pm4fu ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Liz Spry

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Maternal Mental Health ◽

Health Problems ◽

Prior Exposure ◽

Differential Sensitivity ◽

Perinatal Mental Health ◽

One Year

Background: Maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum predicts later emotional and behavioural problems in children. Even though most perinatal mental health problems begin before pregnancy, the consequences of preconception maternal mental health for children’s early emotional development have not been prospectively studied.Methods: We used data from two prospective Australian intergenerational cohorts, with 756 women assessed repeatedly for mental health problems before pregnancy between age 13 and 29 years, and during pregnancy and at one year postpartum for 1231 subsequent pregnancies. Offspring infant emotional reactivity, an early indicator of differential sensitivity denoting increased risk of emotional problems under adversity, was assessed at one year postpartum.Results: Thirty-seven percent of infants born to mothers with persistent preconception mental health problems were categorised as high in emotional reactivity, compared to 23% born to mothers without preconception history (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1). Ante- and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms were similarly associated with infant emotional reactivity, but these perinatal associations reduced somewhat after adjustment for prior exposure. Causal mediation analysis further showed that 88% of the preconception risk was a direct effect, not mediated by perinatal exposure. Conclusions: Maternal preconception mental health problems predict infant emotional reactivity, independently of maternal perinatal mental health; while associations between perinatal depressive symptoms and infant reactivity are partially explained by prior exposure. Findings suggest that processes shaping early vulnerability for later mental disorders arise well before conception. There is an emerging case for expanding developmental theories and trialling preventive interventions in the years before pregnancy.

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A Multi-Level Meta Analysis on the Relations Between Mental Health Problems and Internet Addiction

Korea Journal of Counseling ◽

10.15703/kjc.14.1.201302.285 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 285-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kim Dong-il ◽

강민철 ◽

정여주 ◽

이윤희

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Internet Addiction ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Health Problems ◽

Multi Level

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Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children's Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.691659 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Eve-Line Bussières ◽

Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise ◽

A. Meilleur ◽

Trinity Mastine ◽

Elodie Hérault ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Children’S Mental Health ◽

Children's Mental Health ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Sleep Habits ◽

Small Magnitude ◽

General Mental Health

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems in many individuals, including children. Children with pre-existing socio-demographic or developmental risk factors may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of the pandemic and associated public health preventive measures.Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children aged 5–13 years-old, while highlighting the specific difficulties experienced by children with neurodevelopmental issues or chronic health conditions.Methods: A systematic search of the published literature was conducted in Medline, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, followed by a quantitative meta-analysis of the eligible studies.Results: Out of the 985 articles identified, 28 empirical studies with prospective or retrospective longitudinal data were included in the quantitative synthesis. COVID-19 lockdown measures were associated with negative general mental health outcomes among children (g = 0.28, p < 0.001, and k = 21), but of small magnitude. Sleep habits were also changed during the pandemic, as sleep duration significantly increased in children (g = 0.32; p = 0.004, and k = 9). Moreover, results did not differ between children from the general population and those from clinical populations such as children with epilepsy, oncology, neurodevelopmental disorders, or obesity. Effect sizes were larger in European vs. Asian countries.Conclusions: Studies included in this review suggest that children's mental health was generally negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's mental health and the influence of specific risks factors as they evolve over time.

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