Postnatal maternal depressive symptoms and behavioural outcomes in term-born and preterm-born toddlers: A longitudinal UK community cohort study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Postnatal maternal depressive symptoms and behavioural outcomes in term-born and preterm-born toddlers

T2 - A longitudinal UK community cohort study

AU - Kleine, Ira

AU - Vamvakas, George

AU - Lautarescu, Alexandra

AU - Falconer, Shona

AU - Chew, Andrew

AU - Counsell, Serena

AU - Pickles, Andrew

AU - Edwards, David

AU - Nosarti, Chiara

N1 - Publisher Copyright: ©

PY - 2022/9/1

Y1 - 2022/9/1

N2 - Objectives To examine the association between maternal depressive symptoms in the immediate postnatal period and offspring's behavioural outcomes in a large cohort of term-born and preterm-born toddlers. Design and participants Data were drawn from the Developing Human Connectome Project. Maternal postnatal depressive symptoms were assessed at term-equivalent age, and children's outcomes were evaluated at a median corrected age of 18.4 months (range 17.3-24.3). Exposure and outcomes Preterm birth was defined as <37 weeks completed gestation. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Toddlers' outcome measures were parent-rated Child Behaviour Checklist 1 1/2 -5 Total (CBCL) and Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) scores. Toddlers' cognition was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - Third Edition (Bayley-III). Results Higher maternal EPDS scores were associated with toddlers' higher CBCL (B=0.93, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.44, p<0.001, f 2 =0.05) and Q-CHAT scores (B=0.27, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.52, p=0.031, f 2 =0.01). Maternal EPDS, toddlers' CBCL and Q-CHAT scores did not differ between preterm (n=97; 19.1% of the total sample) and term participants. Maternal EPDS score did not disproportionately affect preterm children with respect to CBCL or Q-CHAT scores. Conclusions Our findings indicate that children whose mothers reported increased depressive symptoms in the early postnatal period, including subclinical symptoms, exhibit more parent-reported behavioural problems in toddlerhood. These associations were independent of gestational age. Further research is needed to confirm the clinical significance of these findings.

AB - Objectives To examine the association between maternal depressive symptoms in the immediate postnatal period and offspring's behavioural outcomes in a large cohort of term-born and preterm-born toddlers. Design and participants Data were drawn from the Developing Human Connectome Project. Maternal postnatal depressive symptoms were assessed at term-equivalent age, and children's outcomes were evaluated at a median corrected age of 18.4 months (range 17.3-24.3). Exposure and outcomes Preterm birth was defined as <37 weeks completed gestation. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Toddlers' outcome measures were parent-rated Child Behaviour Checklist 1 1/2 -5 Total (CBCL) and Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) scores. Toddlers' cognition was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - Third Edition (Bayley-III). Results Higher maternal EPDS scores were associated with toddlers' higher CBCL (B=0.93, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.44, p<0.001, f 2 =0.05) and Q-CHAT scores (B=0.27, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.52, p=0.031, f 2 =0.01). Maternal EPDS, toddlers' CBCL and Q-CHAT scores did not differ between preterm (n=97; 19.1% of the total sample) and term participants. Maternal EPDS score did not disproportionately affect preterm children with respect to CBCL or Q-CHAT scores. Conclusions Our findings indicate that children whose mothers reported increased depressive symptoms in the early postnatal period, including subclinical symptoms, exhibit more parent-reported behavioural problems in toddlerhood. These associations were independent of gestational age. Further research is needed to confirm the clinical significance of these findings.

KW - Child & adolescent psychiatry

KW - Depression & mood disorders

KW - Developmental neurology & neurodisability

KW - MENTAL HEALTH

KW - NEONATOLOGY

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85137928030

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058540

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058540

M3 - Article

C2 - 36581974

AN - SCOPUS:85137928030

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 12

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 9

M1 - 058540

ER -