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Parental depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy and attention problems in children: a cross-cohort consistency study.
- Source :
-
Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines [J Child Psychol Psychiatry] 2013 May; Vol. 54 (5), pp. 591-600. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Dec 07. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: Maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy have been associated with offspring-attention deficit problems.<br />Aim: We explored possible intrauterine effects by comparing maternal and paternal symptoms during pregnancy, by investigating cross-cohort consistency, and by investigating whether parental symptoms in early childhood may explain any observed intrauterine effect.<br />Methods: This study was conducted in two cohorts (Generation R, n = 2,280 and ALSPAC, n = 3,442). Pregnant women and their partners completed questionnaires to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety. Child attention problems were measured in Generation R at age 3 with the Child Behavior Checklist, and in ALSPAC at age 4 with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.<br />Results: In both cohorts, antenatal maternal symptoms of depression (Generation R: OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.43; ALSPAC: OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.19-1.48) and anxiety (Generation R: OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.06-1.46; ALSPAC: OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19-1.47) were associated with a higher risk of child attention problems. In ALSPAC, paternal depression was also associated with a higher risk of child attention problems (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.00-1.24). After adjusting for maternal symptoms after giving birth, antenatal maternal depression and anxiety were no longer associated with child attention problems in Generation R. Moreover, there was little statistical evidence that antenatal maternal and paternal depression and anxiety had a substantially different effect on attention problems of the child.<br />Conclusions: The apparent intrauterine effect of maternal depression and anxiety on offspring-behavioural problems may be partly explained by residual confounding. There was little evidence of a difference between the strength of associations of maternal and paternal symptoms during pregnancy with offspring-attention problems. That maternal symptoms after childbirth were also associated with offspring-behavioural problems may indicate a contribution of genetic influences to the association.<br /> (© 2012 The Authors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry © 2012 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.)
- Subjects :
- Anxiety Disorders epidemiology
Anxiety Disorders genetics
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity epidemiology
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity genetics
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Depressive Disorder epidemiology
Depressive Disorder genetics
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease genetics
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications epidemiology
Pregnancy Complications genetics
Risk Factors
Statistics as Topic
Anxiety Disorders diagnosis
Anxiety Disorders psychology
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity psychology
Depressive Disorder diagnosis
Depressive Disorder psychology
Fathers psychology
Mothers psychology
Pregnancy Complications diagnosis
Pregnancy Complications psychology
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1469-7610
- Volume :
- 54
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23215861
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12023