Maternal Depression in Early Childhood and Developmental Vulnerability at School Entry Elizabeth Wall-Wieler, PhD,a Leslie L. Roos, PhD,c Ian H. Gotlib, PhDb
OBJECTIVES: To
assess the relation between exposure to maternal depression before age 5 and 5 domains of developmental vulnerability at school entry, overall, and by age at exposure.
abstract
METHODS: This
cohort study included all children born in Manitoba, Canada, who completed the Early Development Instrument between 2005 and 2016 (N = 52 103). Maternal depression was defined by using physician visits, hospitalizations, and pharmaceutical data; developmental vulnerability was assessed by using the Early Development Instrument. Relative risk of developmental vulnerability was assessed by using log-binomial regression models adjusted for characteristics at birth. RESULTS: Children
exposed to maternal depression before age 5 had a 17% higher risk of having at least 1 developmental vulnerability at school entry than did children not exposed to maternal depression before age 5. Exposure to maternal depression was most strongly associated with difficulties in social competence (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–1.38), physical health and well-being (aRR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.20–1.36), and emotional maturity (aRR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.18–1.37). For most developmental domains, exposure to maternal depression before age 1 and between ages 4 and 5 had the strongest association with developmental vulnerability.
Our finding that children exposed to maternal depression are at higher risk for developmental vulnerability at school entry is consistent with previous findings. We extended this literature by documenting that the adverse effects of exposure to maternal depression are specific to particular developmental domains and that these effects vary depending on the age at which the child is exposed to maternal depression. CONCLUSIONS:
Departments of aPediatrics and bPsychology, Stanford University, Stanford, California; and cDepartment of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Dr Wall-Wieler conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, conducted the initial analyses, and worked on subsequent analyses; Dr Roos conceptualized and designed the study, worked on subsequent analyses, and provided critical feedback; Dr Gotlib reviewed the initial findings of this study, worked on subsequent analyses, and helped to write the manuscript; and all authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-0794 Accepted for publication Apr 30, 2020 Address correspondence to Elizabeth Wall-Wieler, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, 1265 Welch Rd, Stanford, CA 94305. E-mail: ewallwie@stanford.edu PEDIATRICS (ISSN Numbers: Print, 0031-4005; Online, 1098-4275). Copyright © 2020 by the American Academy of Pediatrics FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
WHAT’S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Exposure to maternal depression is associated with problematic development in offspring, although the specific nature of these difficulties and their association with age at exposure is not well understood. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: We documented specificity in the effects of children’s exposure to maternal depression in early childhood, with the strongest effects on social competence and emotional maturity and among children who were exposed to maternal depression shortly before starting school. To cite: Wall-Wieler E, Roos LL, Gotlib IH. Maternal Depression in Early Childhood and Developmental Vulnerability at School Entry. Pediatrics. 2020;146(3): e20200794
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