Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2021
DOI
10.1186/s12884-021-04308-0
Publication Title
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Volume
21
Issue
1
Pages
827 (1-10)
Abstract
Background
Perinatal (antenatal and postpartum) depression impacts approximately 12% of mothers. Perinatal depression can impact everyday functioning for mothers, and the relationship with, and development of, their children. The purpose of this study was to investigate depression trajectories from the antenatal period through 54-months postpartum and associations with child body mass index at 54-months postpartum.
Methods
This study applied latent growth modeling to the Growing Up in New Zealand study, which is a longitudinal pregnancy cohort study that provides nationally representative-level data, to investigate associations between depression at three time points (antenatal, 9-months postpartum, 54-months postpartum) and child body mass index at 54-months (n=4897).
Results
The average slope of depression for this sample is low and decreases over time. When child BMI was added to the model as an outcome variable, both antenatal depression (B=.25, pppχ2 (9) = 39.60, p < .05, SRMR = 0.01, CFI = .99, RMSEA = 0.03, BIC=53213).
Conclusions
Our findings align with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease theory and imply that both the physical and mental health of mothers during pregnancy may be important indicators of child growth and development outcomes. Early intervention directed towards women who have even mild depression scores during pregnancy may promote healthy child development outcomes. Additionally, given the heterogeneity of depressive symptoms over time seen in this study, multiple assessment periods across the postpartum period may be valuable to adequately address and support maternal mental health.
Original Publication Citation
Farewell, C. V., Donohoe, R., Thayer, Z., Paulson, J., Nicklas, J., Walker, C., Waldie, K., & Leiferman, J. A. (2021). Maternal depression trajectories and child BMI in a multi-ethnic sample: A latent growth modeling analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1), 1-10, Article 827. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04308-0
Repository Citation
Farewell, Charlotte V.; Donohoe, Ryley; Thayer, Zaneta; Paulson, James; Nicklas, Jacinda; Walker, Caroline; Waldie, Karen; and Leiferman, Jenn A., "Maternal Depression Trajectories and Child BMI in a Multi-Ethnic Sample: A Latent Growth Modeling Analysis" (2021). Psychology Faculty Publications. 125.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_fac_pubs/125
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons
Comments
© The Authors 2021.
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