scholarly journals Feasibility of an Online Acute Stressor in Preschool Children of Mothers with Depression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson Paton ◽  
Shaelyn Stienwandt ◽  
Lara Penner-Goeke ◽  
Ryan Jeffrey Giuliano ◽  
Leslie E Roos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Online Matching

Maternal depression is a risk factor for future mental health problems in offspring, with stress-system function as a candidate vulnerability factor. Here we present initial validation of an online matching-task paradigm in young children exposed to maternal depression (N=40), a first in stressor-paradigm research for this age group. Investigations of stress-system reactivity that can be conducted online are an innovative assessment approach, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicate high feasibility, with ~80% success across measures, similar-to or better-than in-person success rates in young children. Overall, the online matching task elicited significant HR but not cortisol reactivity. Individual differences in child mental health symptoms were a moderator of reactivity to the stressor such that children with lower, but not higher, behavioural problems exhibited the expected pattern of cortisol reactivity to the online matching task. Results are aligned with allostatic load models, which suggest down-regulation of stress-system reactivity as a result of experiencing adversity and mental health vulnerability. Consistent with in-person research, this suggests an early phenotype for the emergence of behaviour problems may be linked to altered stress-system reactivity. Results hold potential clinical implications for intervention development and the future of online stress-system research.

scholarly journals Predictors of persistent maternal depression trajectories in early childhood: results from the EDEN mother–child cohort study in France

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1999-2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. van der Waerden ◽  
C. Galéra ◽  
M.-J. Saurel-Cubizolles ◽  
A.-L. Sutter-Dallay ◽  
M. Melchior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Preschool Period ◽  
Persistent Depression ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

BackgroundMaternal depression in the pre- and postpartum period may set women on a course of chronic depressive symptoms. Little is known about predictors of persistently elevated depressive symptoms in mothers from pregnancy onwards. The aims of this study are to determine maternal depression trajectories from pregnancy to the child's fifth birthday and identify associated risk factors.MethodMothers (N = 1807) from the EDEN mother–child birth cohort study based in France (2003–2011) were followed from 24–28 weeks of pregnancy to their child's fifth birthday. Maternal depression trajectories were determined with a semi-parametric group-based modelling strategy. Sociodemographic, psychosocial and psychiatric predictors were explored for their association with trajectory class membership.ResultsFive trajectories of maternal symptoms of depression from pregnancy onwards were identified: no symptoms (60.2%); persistent intermediate-level depressive symptoms (25.2%); persistent high depressive symptoms (5.0%); high symptoms in pregnancy only (4.7%); high symptoms in the child's preschool period only (4.9%).Socio-demographic predictorsassociated with persistent depression were non-French origin;psychosocial predictorswere childhood adversities, life events during pregnancy and work overinvestment;psychiatric predictorswere previous mental health problems, psychological help, and high anxiety during pregnancy.ConclusionsPersistent depression in mothers of young children is associated to several risk factors present prior to or during pregnancy, notably anxiety. These characteristics precede depression trajectories and offer a possible entry point to enhance mother's mental health and reduce its burden on children.

Differential associations of parental harshness and parental disengagement with overall cortisol output at 15 years: Implications for adolescent mental health

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Jenalee R. Doom ◽  
Melissa K. Peckins ◽  
Tyler C. Hein ◽  
Hailey L. Dotterer ◽  
Colter Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Fragile Families ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Hair Samples

Abstract Psychosocial stress in childhood and adolescence is linked to stress system dysregulation, although few studies have examined the relative impacts of parental harshness and parental disengagement. This study prospectively tested whether parental harshness and disengagement show differential associations with overall cortisol output in adolescence. Associations between overall cortisol output and adolescent mental health problems were tested concurrently. Adolescents from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) provided hair samples for cortisol assay at 15 years (N = 171). Caregivers reported on parental harshness and disengagement experiences at 1, 3, 5, 9, and 15 years, and adolescents reported at 15 years. Both parent and adolescent reported depressive and anxiety symptoms and antisocial behaviors at 15. Greater parental harshness from 1–15 years, and harshness reported at 15 years in particular, was associated with higher overall cortisol output at 15. Greater parental disengagement from 1–15 years, and disengagement at 1 year specifically, was associated with lower cortisol output. There were no significant associations between cortisol output and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or antisocial behaviors. These results suggest that the unique variances of parental harshness and disengagement may have opposing associations with cortisol output at 15 years, with unclear implications for adolescent mental health.

scholarly journals Hypocortisolism as a potential marker of allostatic load in children: Associations with family risk and internalizing disorders

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 881-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa S. Badanes ◽  
Sarah Enos Watamura ◽  
Benjamin L. Hankin
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Allostatic Load ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Continuous Measure ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Low Cortisol

AbstractAlthough the majority of research attention to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in stress-related disorders and as a marker of allostatic load has focused on overactivation of this stress system, theory and data clearly indicate that underactivation is also an important type of dysregulation. In the current study we focused on low cortisol, exploring a constellation of risk factors including stress exposure, maternal depression, and attenuated basal and stress reactive cortisol in two samples of children. The first sample was comprised of 110 preschoolers living in high-stress environments. Cortisol was assessed across the day at home and at child care as well as across two stress paradigms. These data were used to classify whether children's HPA axis activity was attenuated. Serious family financial strain, maternal depression, and attenuated cortisol all made unique contributions in models predicting current clinical levels of internalizing symptoms as rated by mothers and teachers. The second sample was 166 third, sixth, and ninth graders studied five times across a 1-year period. Maternal and child depression were determined through structured clinical interviews, and stress exposure was assessed via checklist and interview techniques with the child and parent. Cortisol was assessed multiple times across a lab visit at Time 1, and these data were combined into a single continuous measure. Cortisol concentrations across the lab visit interacted with stress exposure across the year such that children with lower average cortisol at Time 1 and increased stress across the 12 months showed elevated levels of internalizing symptoms. Based on these and related data we propose that prior to puberty low cortisol may be an important marker of allostatic load, particularly for risk of depression and anxiety.

scholarly journals Protocol for an app-based affective control training for adolescents: proof-of-principle double-blind randomized controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Susanne Schweizer ◽  
Jovita T. Leung ◽  
Rogier Kievit ◽  
Maarten Speekenbrink ◽  
William Trender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Proof Of Principle

Background: 75% of all mental health problems have their onset before the end of adolescence. Therefore, adolescence may be a particularly sensitive time period for preventing mental health problems. Affective control, the capacity to engage with goal relevant and inhibit distracting information in affective contexts, has been proposed as a potential target for prevention. In this study, we will explore the impact of improving adolescents’ affective control capacity on their mental health. Methods: The proof-of-principle double-blind randomized controlled trial will compare the effectiveness of an app-based affective control training (AC-Training) to a placebo training (P-Training) app. In total, 200 (~50% females) adolescents (11-19 years) will train for 14 days on their training app. The AC-Training will include three different n-back tasks: visuospatial, auditory and dual (i.e., including both modalities). These tasks require participants to flexibly engage and disengage with affective and neutral stimuli (i.e., faces and words). The P-Training will present participants with a perceptual matching task. The three versions of the P-Training tasks vary in the stimuli included (i.e., shapes, words and faces). The two training groups will be compared on gains in affective control, mental health, emotion regulation and self-regulation, immediately after training, one month and one year after training. Discussion: If, as predicted, the proposed study finds that AC-Training successfully improves affective control in adolescents, there would be significant potential benefits to adolescent mental health. As a free app, the training would also be scalable and easy to disseminate across a wide range of settings. Trial registration: The trial was registered on December 10th 2018 with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (Registration number: ISRCTN17213032).

scholarly journals Protocol for an app-based affective control training for adolescents: proof-of-principle double-blind randomized controlled trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Schweizer ◽  
Jovita T. Leung ◽  
Rogier Kievit ◽  
Maarten Speekenbrink ◽  
William Trender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Proof Of Principle

Background: 75% of all mental health problems have their onset before the end of adolescence. Therefore, adolescence may be a particularly sensitive time period for preventing mental health problems. Affective control, the capacity to engage with goal relevant and inhibit distracting information in affective contexts, has been proposed as a potential target for prevention. In this study, we will explore the impact of improving adolescents’ affective control capacity on their mental health. Methods: The proof-of-principle double-blind randomized controlled trial will compare the effectiveness of an app-based affective control training (AffeCT) to a placebo training (P-Training) app. In total, 200 (~50% females) adolescents (11-19 years) will train for 14 days on their training app. The AffeCT will include three different n-back tasks: visuospatial, auditory and dual (i.e., including both modalities). These tasks require participants to flexibly engage and disengage with affective and neutral stimuli (i.e., faces and words). The P-Training will present participants with a perceptual matching task. The three versions of the P-Training tasks vary in the stimuli included (i.e., shapes, words and faces). The two training groups will be compared on gains in affective control, mental health, emotion regulation and self-regulation, immediately after training, one month and one year after training. Discussion: If, as predicted, the proposed study finds that AffeCT successfully improves affective control in adolescents, there would be significant potential benefits to adolescent mental health. As a free app, the training would also be scalable and easy to disseminate across a wide range of settings. Trial registration: The trial was registered on December 10th 2018 with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (Registration number: ISRCTN17213032).

scholarly journals Protocol for an App-Based Affective Control Training for Adolescents

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Schweizer ◽  
Jovita T. Leung ◽  
Rogier Kievit ◽  
Maarten Speekenbrink ◽  
William R. Tender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: 75% of all mental health problems have their onset before the end of adolescence. Adolescence, thus may be a particularly sensitive time period for preventing mental health problems. Affective control, the capacity to engage with goal relevant and inhibit distracting information in affective contexts, has been proposed as a potential target for prevention. In this study, we will explore the impact of improving adolescents’ affective control capacity on their mental health. Methods: The proof-of-principle double-blind randomized controlled trial will compare the effectiveness of an app-based affective control training (AC-Training) to a placebo training (P- Training) app. 200 (~50% females) adolescents (11-19 years) will train for 14 days on their training app. The AC-Training will include three different n-back tasks: visuospatial, auditory and dual (i.e., including both modalities). These tasks require participants to flexibly engage and disengage with affective and neutral stimuli (i.e., faces and words). The P-Training will present participants with a perceptual matching task. The three versions of the P-Training tasks vary in the stimuli included (i.e., shapes, words and faces). The two training groups will be compared on gains in affective control, mental health, emotion regulation and self-regulation, immediately after training, 1 month and 1 year after training. Discussion: If, as predicted, the proposed study finds that AC-Training successfully improves affective control in adolescents, there would be significant potential benefits to adolescent mental health. As a free app, the training would also be scalable and easy to disseminate across a wide range of settings. Trial registration: The trial was registered on December 10 2018 with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (Registration number: ISRCTN17213032, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17213032). Keywords: Mental health; Adolescence; Emotion regulation; Affective control; App-based training

What do Parents Know About the Mental Health Needs and Problems of Children?

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1and2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jilly John
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Child Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Intervention Programme ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Personal Skills

Mental health is how people think, feel and act as they encounter lifes ups and downs. Parents and child care providers need to be aware of the role of mental health in the overall healthy development of young children. It is the task of caregivers to observe young children to be sure that they are maintaining mental health by mastering age-appropriate social and personal skills, such as understanding and managing their feelings, interacting with others and learning to assert themselves in the world. The present study was conducted to examine and compare the knowledge level of parents on mental health problems of children in Gulbarga district, Karnataka and Wayanadu district in Kerala. The data was collected from 250 respondents who are members of different neighbourhood groups in Gulbarga district and Wayanadu district. Stratified random sampling method used for collecting the data. The findings revealed that there is a poor knowledge regarding the mental health problems of children among the parents. This indicates the need for creating knowledge among the parents with the help of specific intervention programme. This study is an initiative to evolve appropriate suggestions for better strategies to promote mental health awareness among mothers.

The Effects of Maternal Depression on Child Mental Health Problems Based on Gender of the Child

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun-Mi Cho ◽  
Eu jin Kim ◽  
Ki-Young Lim ◽  
Ji-Won Lee ◽  
Yun-Mi Shin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Maternal Depression ◽  
Child Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems

scholarly journals Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic among Caregivers of Young Children in Kenya’s Urban Informal Settlements. A Cross-Sectional Telephone Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10092
Author(s):  
Vibian Angwenyi ◽  
Margaret Kabue ◽  
Esther Chongwo ◽  
Adam Mabrouk ◽  
Ezra Kipngetich Too ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Telephone Survey ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
General Anxiety ◽  
Threatening Condition ◽  
Urban Informal Settlements

The emergence of COVID-19 has profoundly affected mental health, especially among highly vulnerable populations. This study describes mental health issues among caregivers of young children and pregnant women in three urban informal settlements in Kenya during the first pandemic year, and factors associated with poor mental health. A cross-sectional telephone survey was administered to 845 participants. Survey instruments included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, and questions on the perceived COVID-19 effects on caregiver wellbeing and livelihood. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and univariate and multivariate analysis. Caregivers perceived COVID-19 as a threatening condition (94.54%), affecting employment and income activities (>80%). Caregivers experienced discrimination (15.27%) and violence (12.6%) during the pandemic. Levels of depression (34%), general anxiety (20%), and COVID-19 related anxiety (14%) were highly prevalent. There were significant associations between mental health outcomes and economic and socio-demographic factors, violence and discrimination experiences, residency, and perceptions of COVID-19 as a threatening condition. Caregivers high burden of mental health problems highlights the urgent need to provide accessible mental health support. Innovative and multi-sectoral approaches will be required to maximize reach to underserved communities in informal settlements and tackle the root causes of mental health problems in this population.

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