Adolescent and young adult mental health problems and infant offspring behavior: Findings from a prospective intergenerational cohort study.
Anxiety
Depression
Infant behavior problems
Intergenerational transmission
Preconception
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 07 2020
01 07 2020
Historique:
received:
06
09
2019
revised:
29
01
2020
accepted:
28
03
2020
entrez:
20
6
2020
pubmed:
20
6
2020
medline:
16
2
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Parental depression and anxiety have been consistently linked to offspring behavior problems across childhood. However, many of the risks for these common mental health problems are established well before pregnancy. This study takes advantage of rare, prospective data to examine relations between parental mental health histories (from adolescence onwards) and next generation offspring behavior problems. Data were drawn from a multi-generational cohort study that has followed Australians from infancy to adulthood since 1983, and 1171 of their offspring assessed prospectively from pregnancy. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate associations between parents' depression/anxiety symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood and offspring behavior problems at 1 year. In analyses of 648 mother-infant and 423 father-infant dyads, after adjustment for confounders and concurrent mental health problems, mean behavior problem scores in infants of mothers with a history of mental health problems in both adolescence and young adulthood were over half a standard deviation higher than those of mothers without problems during these periods, B = 2.19, 95% CI 1.21 - 3.17, β = 0.52. No association was observed for fathers. We only included infants born to participants aged 29-35 years and we assessed behavior problems via parent-report. A mother's history of persistent depression and anxiety from adolescence to young adulthood can predict higher levels of behavior problems in her infant. Findings support calls for greater policy and prevention focus on preconception and postnatal mental health, particularly a mother's early emotional health history, prior to parenthood.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Parental depression and anxiety have been consistently linked to offspring behavior problems across childhood. However, many of the risks for these common mental health problems are established well before pregnancy. This study takes advantage of rare, prospective data to examine relations between parental mental health histories (from adolescence onwards) and next generation offspring behavior problems.
METHODS
Data were drawn from a multi-generational cohort study that has followed Australians from infancy to adulthood since 1983, and 1171 of their offspring assessed prospectively from pregnancy. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate associations between parents' depression/anxiety symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood and offspring behavior problems at 1 year.
RESULTS
In analyses of 648 mother-infant and 423 father-infant dyads, after adjustment for confounders and concurrent mental health problems, mean behavior problem scores in infants of mothers with a history of mental health problems in both adolescence and young adulthood were over half a standard deviation higher than those of mothers without problems during these periods, B = 2.19, 95% CI 1.21 - 3.17, β = 0.52. No association was observed for fathers.
LIMITATIONS
We only included infants born to participants aged 29-35 years and we assessed behavior problems via parent-report.
CONCLUSIONS
A mother's history of persistent depression and anxiety from adolescence to young adulthood can predict higher levels of behavior problems in her infant. Findings support calls for greater policy and prevention focus on preconception and postnatal mental health, particularly a mother's early emotional health history, prior to parenthood.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32553396
pii: S0165-0327(19)32377-8
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.101
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
521-528Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest There are no conflicts of interest.