Maternal depression and bullying victimization among adolescents: Results from the 2004 Pelotas cohort study

Author(s)

Azeredo, Catarina Machado ^[1] ; Santos, Ina S. ^[2] ; Barros, Aluisio J. D. ^[2] ; Barros, Fernando C. ^{[2, 3]} ; Matijasevich, Alicia ^{[2, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Sch Med, Dept Nutr, Av Para 1720, Bloco 2U, Sala 20, Campus Umuarama, BR-38405320 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Pelotas, Postgrad Program Epidemiol, Pelotas, RS - Brazil

^[3] Univ Catolica Pelotas, Postgrad Program Hlth & Behav, Pelotas, RS - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Prevent Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY; v. 34, n. 10, p. 897-907, OCT 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Background: Maternal depression impacts on several detrimental outcomes during a child's life course, and could increase their risk of victimization. This longitudinal study examined the association between antenatal maternal depression, postnatal trajectories, and current maternal depression and offspring bullying victimization at 11 years. Methods: We included 3,441 11-year-old adolescents from the 2004 Pelotas Cohort Study. Antenatal maternal depression, postnatal trajectories, and current maternal depression data were assessed during the follow-up waves. Bullying victimization was self-reported by the adolescents. We used ordinal logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), for the association between maternal depression and offspring bullying victimization. Results: The most prevalent type of bullying was verbal victimization (37.9%). We observed a positive association between antenatal maternal depression, postnatal trajectories, and current maternal depression and physical bullying victimization. Maternal mood symptoms during pregnancy were associated with physical (OR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.11-1.53), verbal (OR = 1.29, 95%CI = 1.12-1.49), and any victimization (OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.05-1.41). Severe current maternal depression was associated with physical (OR = 1.34, 95%CI = 1.10-1.62), social manipulation (OR = 1.29, 95%CI = 1.08-1.53), attacks on property (OR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.08-1.57) and any victimization (OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.12-1.56). Regarding maternal depression trajectories, the ``chronic-high{''} group was associated with higher risk of social manipulation, attacks on property and any victimization, than the ``low{''} group. Conclusions: Our results strengthen the evidence of association between maternal depression and offspring bullying victimization, and physical victimization appears to be the main component. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to elucidate the theoretical pathways for this longitudinal association. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/13864-6 - Mental disorders, substance use and executive functions in early adolescence in a birth cohort
• Grantee: Alicia Matijasevich Manitto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants