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Reported Maternal Postpartum Depression and Risk of Childhood Psychopathology

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Abstract

Childhood emotional and behavioural disorders are prevalent, can cause significant maladaptation and often persist into adulthood. Previous literature investigating the potential influence of postpartum depression (PPD) is inconsistent. The present study examined the association between PPD and childhood behavioural/emotional outcomes, while considering a number of potentially important factors. Data were analyzed prospectively from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth at two follow-up periods (ages 2–3, N = 1,452 and ages 4–5, N = 1,357). PPD was measured using the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV-TR. Four behavioural/emotional outcomes were analyzed at each follow-up. For both age groups, logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between PPD and each of the behavioural and emotional outcomes adjusting for child, obstetric, environmental and socio-demographic factors. PPD was associated with the Emotional Disorder-Anxiety among 2–3 year olds [OR = 2.38, 95 % CI 1.15, 4.91]. Among 2–3 year olds, hostile/ineffective parenting was associated with Hyperactivity-Inattention [OR = 1.88, 95 % CI 1.14, 3.11] and Physical Aggression-Opposition [OR = 2.95, 95 % CI 1.77, 4.92]. Among 4–5 year olds, hostile/ineffective parenting was associated with Hyperactivity-Inattention [OR = 2.34, 95 % CI 1.22, 4.47], Emotional Disorder-Anxiety [OR = 2.16, 95 % CI 1.00, 4.67], Physical Aggression-Conduct Disorder [OR = 1.96, 95 % CI 1.09, 3.53] and Indirect Aggression [OR = 1.87, 95 % CI 1.09, 3.21]. The findings of the present study do not suggest that PPD is independently associated with any enduring sequelae in the realm of child behavioural/emotional psychology, though the symptoms of PPD may be giving way to other important mediating factors such as parenting style.

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Acknowledgments

While the research and analyses are based on data from Statistics Canada, the opinions expressed do not represent the views of Statistics Canada. The authors would like to thank the NLSCY study participants, Statistics Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the staff at the Toronto Region—Statistics Canada Research Data Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Meghan J. Walker

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

    Caroline Davis

  3. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada

    Caroline Davis

  4. Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Canada

    Caroline Davis, Ban Al-Sahab & Hala Tamim

  5. Prevention and Cancer Control, Cancer Care Ontario, 620 University Avenue, 11th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5G 2L7, Canada

    Meghan J. Walker

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  1. Meghan J. Walker
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Correspondence to Meghan J. Walker.

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Walker, M.J., Davis, C., Al-Sahab, B. et al. Reported Maternal Postpartum Depression and Risk of Childhood Psychopathology. Matern Child Health J 17, 907–917 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1071-2

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