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- Agnafors, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Effect of gene, environment and maternal depressive symptoms on pre-adolescence behavior problems : a longitudinal study
- 2013
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In: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1753-2000. ; 7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Depression is a common and disabling condition with a high relapse frequency. Maternal mental health problems and experience of traumatic life events are known to increase the risk of behavior problems in children. Recently, genetic factors, in particular gene-by-environment interaction models, have been implicated to explain depressive etiology. However, results are inconclusive.METHODS:Study participants were members of the SESBiC-study. A total of 889 mothers and their children were followed during the child's age of 3 months to 12 years. Information on maternal depressive symptoms was gathered postpartum and at a 12 year follow-up. Mothers reported on child behavior and traumatic life events experienced by the child at age 12. Saliva samples were obtained from children for analysis of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms.RESULTS:Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety, and internalizing problems in 12-year-old children (OR 5.72, 95% CI 3.30-9.91). Furthermore, carriers of two short alleles (s/s) of the 5-HTTLPR showed a more than 4-fold increased risk of internalizing problems at age 12 compared to l/l carriers (OR 4.73, 95% CI 2.14-10.48). No gene-by-environment interaction was found and neither depressive symptoms postpartum or traumatic experiences during childhood stayed significant in the final model.CONCLUSIONS:Concurrent maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety are significant risk factors for behavior problems in children, which need to be taken into account in clinical practice. Furthermore, we found a main effect of 5-HTTLPR on internalizing symptoms in 12-year-old children, a finding that needs to be confirmed in future studies.
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| 2. |
- Agnafors, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Symptoms of Depression Postpartum and 12 years Later-Associations to Child Mental Health at 12 years of Age
- 2013
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In: Maternal and Child Health Journal. - : Springer Verlag (Germany). - 1092-7875 .- 1573-6628. ; 17:3, s. 405-414
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Children of depressed mothers have been shown to express behaviour problems to a greater extent than children of non-depressed mothers. The purpose of this study was to examine the persistence of depressive symptoms in mothers and to evaluate the relative importance of symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) and concurrent maternal symptoms of depression, on child behaviour at age 12. A birth cohort of 1,707 children and their mothers was followed from 3 months after birth to 12 years after birth. Self-reported symptoms of depression in mothers were assessed at baseline and 12-year follow-up where 893 mothers (52.3 %) and their children participated. The mothers reports on the behaviour of their children at age 12 were used. Multivariate analysis was used to assess factors that increased the risk of child behaviour problems. At baseline, 10.4 % scored above the cutoff for symptoms of postpartum depression. At follow up, 18.2 % scored above the cutoff for depressive symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that ongoing maternal symptoms of depression, as distinct from PPD-symptoms, was the strongest predictor of child behaviour problems at age 12. The gender of the child and socio-demographic factors at baseline were additional factors that affected the risk of behaviour problems in the 12 year old children. Children of mothers who reported symptoms of depression, both postpartum and at follow-up, were at a greater risk of behaviour problems compared to children of women with no depressive symptoms on either occasion. Our findings indicate that recurrent and ongoing maternal depressive symptoms significantly increase the risk of child behaviour problems as reported by mothers, while symptoms of PPD do not seem to result in an increased risk of behaviour problems in 12 year olds. High maternal socio-demographic life stress at childbirth constitutes an important risk factor for later child behaviour problems.
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| 3. |
- Tingskull, Sylvia, et al.
(author)
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Parent and Child Agreement on Experience of Potential Traumatic Events
- 2013
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In: Child Abuse Review. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0952-9136 .- 1099-0852. ; 24:3, s. 170-181
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to investigate the agreement between parent and child report of potential traumas experienced, to look at the agreement by interpersonal versus non-interpersonal traumas and by gender. A birth cohort of 1723 children and their parents was followed from three months until 12 years after birth (South East Sweden Birth Cohort (SESBiC) study). At 12-year follow-up, 1174 children, 875 mothers and 601 fathers completed the Life Incidence of Traumatic Events (LITE) questionnaire. Cohen's kappa was used to assess the agreement between parent and child reports of traumas experienced by the child. The group was split by gender and kappa statistics were computed to determine the level of agreement between the different informants. The sample was also analysed according to the nature of the traumatic event: interpersonal or non-interpersonal. Agreement was low across most types of traumas reported between parents and children and moderate between mothers and fathers. Agreement was lower when the trauma was interpersonal. No significant discrepancies in general were found on gender. The study highlights the importance of from whom the researcher collects information. In future research, it is important to study the significance the choice of information source might have on reported symptoms and behavioural problems.
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