Maternal Depressive Symptoms in the First Year after Childbirth Predict Long-Term Developmental Risks in Sons and Daughters

Linda S. Pagani (), Kianoush Harandian, Beatrice Necsa, Marie-Josée Harbec and George M. Tarabulsy
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Linda S. Pagani: School of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
Kianoush Harandian: School of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
Beatrice Necsa: School of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
Marie-Josée Harbec: Specialized Scientific Advisor, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Montreal, QC H2P 1E2, Canada
George M. Tarabulsy: School of Psychology, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Under-diagnosed and thus under-treated, maternal depression remains the most common complication of childbearing. Varying symptoms suggest persistence up to more than a decade following childbirth. This implies distinct vulnerabilities for the physical and emotional care of children. Using a prospective-longitudinal sex-stratified birth cohort of 2120 infants, we examined the relationship between early maternal depression symptoms and subsequent child psycho-social and relational characteristics. Mothers self-reported the severity and frequency of depressive symptoms 5 months after childbirth. Parents, teachers, and target participants reported on child mental health and relationships with adults, from kindergarten to tenth grade. A series of least-squares regressions were estimated, while controlling for pre-existing/concurrent child and family confounds. Both sons and daughters of mothers with more depressive symptoms were at risk of experiencing greater psycho-social impairment, classroom rule defiance, difficult relationships with teachers, less enjoyable mealtimes (age 6 years) and sleep, and coercive or inconsistent parenting practices in childhood and adolescence. For boys, these prospective associations were mostly consistent through ages 12 and 15 years. Girls also experienced more problematic interactions through to age 15 years. This study provides observations of distinct long-term vulnerabilities for sons and daughters in association with early maternal distress at important transitional periods of development in early, middle, and later childhood.

Keywords: maternal depressive symptoms; child development; psycho-social well-being; longitudinal analyses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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