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American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

Impact of Maternal Depressive Symptoms on Growth of Preschool- and School-Aged Children

Pamela J. Surkan, Anna K. Ettinger, Saifuddin Ahmed, Cynthia S. Minkovitz and Donna Strobino
Pediatrics October 2012, 130 (4) e847-e855; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2118
Pamela J. Surkan
aDepartments of International Health and
bPopulation, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Anna K. Ettinger
bPopulation, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Saifuddin Ahmed
bPopulation, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Cynthia S. Minkovitz
bPopulation, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Donna Strobino
bPopulation, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to examine whether maternal depressive symptoms at 9 months postpartum adversely affect growth in preschool- and school-aged children.

METHODS: We used data from the US nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort. We fit multivariable logistic regression models to study maternal depressive symptoms at 9 months postpartum (using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) in relation to child growth outcomes, ≤10% height-for-age, ≤10% weight-for-height, and ≤10% weight-for-age at 4 and 5 years.

RESULTS: At 9 months, 24% of mothers reported mild depressive symptoms and 17% moderate/severe symptoms. After adjustment for household, maternal, and child factors, children of mothers with moderate to severe levels of depressive symptoms at 9 months’ postpartum had a 40% increased odds of being ≤10% in height-for-age at age 4 (odds ratio = 1.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.89) and 48% increased odds of being ≤10% in height-for-age at age 5 (odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–2.13) compared with children of women with few or no depressive symptoms. There was no statistically significant association between maternal depressive symptoms and children being ≤10% in weight-for-height and weight-for-age at 4 or 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depressive symptoms during infancy may affect physical growth in early childhood. Prevention, early detection, and treatment of maternal depressive symptoms during the first year postpartum may prevent childhood height-for-age ≤10th percentile among preschool- and school-aged children.

KEY WORDS
  • maternal depressive symptoms
  • child growth
  • mother-child relations
  • Abbreviations:
    CAPI —
    computer-assisted personal interviews
    CES-D —
    Center for Epidemiological Studies, Depression Scale
    CI —
    confidence interval
    ECLS-B —
    Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort
    • Accepted May 23, 2012.
    • Copyright © 2012 by the American Academy of Pediatrics

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    Pediatrics
    Vol. 130, Issue 4
    1 Oct 2012
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    Impact of Maternal Depressive Symptoms on Growth of Preschool- and School-Aged Children
    Pamela J. Surkan, Anna K. Ettinger, Saifuddin Ahmed, Cynthia S. Minkovitz, Donna Strobino
    Pediatrics Oct 2012, 130 (4) e847-e855; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2118

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    Impact of Maternal Depressive Symptoms on Growth of Preschool- and School-Aged Children
    Pamela J. Surkan, Anna K. Ettinger, Saifuddin Ahmed, Cynthia S. Minkovitz, Donna Strobino
    Pediatrics Oct 2012, 130 (4) e847-e855; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2118
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