Maternal and paternal depression and child mental health trajectories: evidence from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The relationships between offspring depression profiles across adolescence and different timings of parental depression during the perinatal period remain unknown. AIMS: To explore different timings of maternal and paternal perinatal depression in relation to patterns of change in offspring depressive mood over a 14 year period. METHOD: Data were obtained from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Parental antenatal depression (ANTD) was assessed at 18 weeks gestation, and postnatal depression (PNTD) at 8 weeks postpartum. Population-averaged trajectories of offspring depressive symptoms were estimated using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) on nine occasions between 10 and 24 years of age. RESULTS: Full data were available for 5029 individuals. Offspring exposed to both timings of maternal depression had higher depressive symptoms across adolescence compared with offspring not exposed to ANTD or PNTD, characterised by higher depressive symptoms at age 16 (7.07 SMFQ points (95% CI = 6.19, 7.95; P < 0.001)) and a greater rate of linear change (0.698 SMFQ points (95% CI = 0.47, 0.93; P = 0.002)). Isolated maternal ANTD and to a lesser extent PNTD were also both associated with higher depressive symptoms at age 16, yet isolated maternal PNTD showed greater evidence for an increased rate of linear change across adolescence. A similar pattern was observed for paternal ANTD and PNTD, although effect sizes were attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the literature demonstrating that exposure to two timings of maternal depression (ANTD and PNTD) is strongly associated with greater offspring trajectories of depressive symptoms.
Source: BJPsych Open
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2021.959
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,980
Funders: Wellcome Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust/Institute of Cancer Research, National Institute for Health and Care Research, European Commission, University of Bristol, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, H2020 European Research Council
Awards: G1192034430, G1605161196, G1795554050, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): A multi-generation, longitudinal resource, G3207356259, Examining the aetiology, nature and consequences of depression in young people within a biosocial framework, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): A multi- generation, longitudinal resource focusing on life course health and well- being., G3831911591, G4418645022, The Avon Longitudinal Study for Parents and Children: An international resource for population genomic and lifecourse epidemiology. Core programme support 2014-2019., G4793289069, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: An international resource for population
genomics and lifecourse epidemiology. Core Programme Support 2011-2015 and Core programme support 2014-2019, G5562631338, G5857625837, G5902137292, Genetic, behavioural and cognitive mechanisms underpinning the association between mother and offspring mental health problems: mental (M) health (H) intergenerational transmission (INT) -(MHINT), G6910425605, G7828794151, G896728979
OpenAlex ID: W3169198986