Associations between postnatal maternal depression and psychological outcomes in adolescent offspring: a systematic review

Abstract

Postnatal depression (PND) affects approximately 10-20 % of new mothers in developed countries, with accumulating research documenting its adverse impact on not only the mother but also the wider family. Longitudinal studies assessing potential effects of maternal PND on offspring are mounting, and it is therefore timely to investigate the long-term psychological outcomes for adolescent offspring who were exposed to PND in infancy. PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase databases were searched with key terms for English language abstracts. Papers of 16 were identified that examined associations between PND and internalising problems, externalising problems, psychopathology, psychosocial, and cognitive outcomes of adolescent offspring. Impaired offspring cognitive outcomes reflected some of the most consistent findings. Conflicting evidence was found for an effect of PND on adolescent offspring internalising and externalising problems and overall psychopathology. Psychosocial outcomes in offspring adolescents indicated a specific adverse effect, although based on only two studies. Significant gender differences across outcomes were found. It was concluded that PND possibly increases risk vulnerability in the presence of recurrent, concurrent, and antenatal maternal depression but that these latter factors alone may be the stronger specific predictors. Limitations of the review are discussed as well as implications for future research and clinical practice.

Addressing the mother–baby relationship in interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: an overview and case study

“…al., 2015). A combination of antenatal and postnatal maternal 4 depression demonstrates long-term effects on the cognitive development and depressive illness risk of children (Asselmann, Wittchen, Lieb, & Beesdo-Baum, 2015;Sanger, Andrew, & Ramchandani, 2015).…”

“…al., 2015). A combination of antenatal and postnatal maternal 4 depression demonstrates long-term effects on the cognitive development and depressive illness risk of children (Asselmann, Wittchen, Lieb, & Beesdo-Baum, 2015;Sanger, Andrew, & Ramchandani, 2015).One of the mechanism of transmission of risk for mental health disorders is thought to be associated with the mother's attachment security and her behaviour with the child, and there is growing evidence to suggest maternal attachment style can be seen as a mediator (Toth, Cicchetti, Rogosch, & Sturge-Apple, 2009). However, women with a pre-existing negative model of the self and others have been shown to be at higher risk of developing PND (Wilkinson & Mulcahy, 2010).…”

Women’s mental health following the birth of a child: a life course approach

“…Research has focused mainly on the exposure to maternal depression as influencing child effects. A recent review of 16 studies investigating maternal postnatal depression and offspring consequences, reported that mothers' postnatal depression was associated with offspring negative cognitive outcomes, but suggested evidence of other effects were limited and conflicting (Sanger et al, 2015). Other studies point to a possible bidirectional pathway between mother and child psychopathology and a few studies have examined a reverse causal pathway.…”

“…Evidence shows exposure to maternal poor mental health has the capacity to influence offspring development , Sanger et al, 2015, Parsons et al, 2012. Much of this evidence points to the effects of peripartum maternal depression on early child development .…”

“…Much of this evidence points to the effects of peripartum maternal depression on early child development . Exposure to maternal depression has been also associated with internalizing and externalizing behaviours in school-aged children (Fihrer et al, 2009, Barker et al, 2012; cognitive impairment in adolescence (Sanger et al, 2015) and behavioural and emotional problems in late adolescence (Korhonen et al, 2012). As well as being subjected to their mothers' depression, offspring may be also adversely affected by their mothers' lifestyle (i.e.…”