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Prenatal and Postnatal Maternal Mental Health and School-Age Child Development: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

One in six children entering school experiences developmental delay. Maternal mental health represents one of the earliest, modifiable influences in a child’s life. The objective of the review was to evaluate the association between maternal mental health and school-age child development, and we hypothesized there would be a negative association. Five databases were searched (Embase, CINAHL, Eric, PsycInfo, Medline). Key journals and reference lists were hand-searched. Two reviewers assessed studies based on inclusion criteria: (1) the exposure was any form of maternal mental health occurring during pregnancy or postpartum periods; (2) the outcome was child development (>48 months to 8 years); (3) the study recruited participants from developed countries; and (4) publication was in English between January, 1990 and December, 2012. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. Study quality was assessed by two reviewers using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Data extraction was conducted by one reviewer using standardized forms. Maternal mental health problems in pregnancy and/or the postpartum period increased the likelihood that school-age children experienced suboptimal global, behavioral, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. The findings highlight the need for maternal mental health assessment during the prenatal, postnatal, and early childhood periods.

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Acknowledgments

Authors received funds from Alberta Centre for Child, Family, and Community Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Nursing, 5-258 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405-87th Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada

    Dawn Kingston

  2. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Suzanne Tough

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Suzanne Tough

  4. Child Development Centre, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research, c/o 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 2X9, Canada

    Suzanne Tough

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Correspondence to Dawn Kingston.

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Kingston, D., Tough, S. Prenatal and Postnatal Maternal Mental Health and School-Age Child Development: A Systematic Review. Matern Child Health J 18, 1728–1741 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1418-3

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