Poster #53 - Associations of Prenatal and Postnatal Maternal Depression With Child Cognition and Behavior

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

Background: Pregnancy and the postpartum months may be windows of heightened vulnerability to depression (Heron et al., 2004). Research suggests that exposure to both prenatal and postnatal maternal depression are associated with poorer cognition and behavioral development in infancy (Bekkhus et al., 2011; Cents et al., 2013; Figueiredo et al., 2010; Mcmanus & Poehlmann, 2012). However, current literature is scarce regarding the consequences in later childhood. The aim of this study is to examine the extent to which prenatal and postpartum depression are associated with cognition, behavior and executive function among school-age children. Methods: This study is based on 1161 mother-child pairs from Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort study. Mothers reported depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) in mid-pregnancy and at 6 months and 12 months postpartum (possible range 0 to 30, a score ≥13 indicates probable depression). In mid-childhood (median 7.7 years), children completed the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2), the Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities (WRAVMA), and the Visual Memory Index of the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML2). Mothers and classroom teachers reported child behaviors using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and executive function using the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). We used multivariable linear regression models to examine associations of period-specific (mid-pregnancy, 6 months and 12 months postpartum) exposure to maternal depressive symptoms with mid-childhood cognitive and behavioral outcomes, adjusted for potential confounders (maternal race/ethnicity, age at enrollment, education, IQ, pre-pregnancy BMI and pregnancy smoking status, household income, partner social support, and child sex; 6 month and 12 month exposures additionally adjusted for gestational age at delivery, birthweight/gestational age z-score, breastfeeding duration and depression in previous exposure periods). Results: Mean (SD) age of women at enrollment was 32.4 (5.0) years and 71.3% of women had a college degree (Table 1); 9.0% of women had EPDS ≥13 in mid-pregnancy, 8.5% at 6 months postpartum and 6.5% at 12 months postpartum. After accounting for confounders, exposure to prenatal maternal depression was associated with higher SDQ total difficulties scores, indicating greater behavior problems (β 2.22; 95% CI 1.11, 3.34 by maternal-report and β 1.64; 95% CI 0.09, 3.19 by teacher-report) mainly on emotional, conduct, and peer problems (Table 2). Associations with maternal depression at 6 months and 12 months postpartum were mostly null in adjusted models. Conclusions: Exposure to prenatal depression was associated with poorer behavioral development in school-age children; suggestive that the prenatal period is a sensitive time for child development.

Authors

• Sabrina Faleschini, School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
  Presenting Author

• Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman, Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
  Non-Presenting Author

• Emily Oken, Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
  Non-Presenting Author

• Marie-France Hivert, Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
  Non-Presenting Author