Maternal depression trajectories and offspring positive attributes and social aptitudes at early adolescence: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort

Author(s)

Maruyama, Jessica Mayumi ^[1] ; Santos, Ina S. ^{[2, 3]} ; Munhoz, Tiago Neuenfeld ^{[2, 4]} ; Matijasevich, Alicia ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Dept Med Prevent, Av Dr Arnaldo 455, 2nd Floor, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

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

^[3] Pontific Catholic Univ Rio Grande Sul, Sch Med, Postgrad Program Pediat & Child Hlth, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Pelotas, Fac Psychol, Pelotas, RS - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY; v. 30, n. 12, p. 1939-1948, DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

There is growing evidence that adolescent positive attributes and social aptitudes are associated with beneficial outcomes, including higher educational attainment and lower risk of later psychiatric disorder. Although maternal depression is a well-known risk factor for a variety of offspring adverse outcomes, less is known on its repercussion on children's positive behavioral traits. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal depression trajectories on offspring positive attributes and social aptitudes, testing sex-moderated models for the studied association. The 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort is an ongoing cohort originally comprised by 4231 live births from Brazil. We included 3465 11-year-old adolescents (48.6% female; maternal self-reported skin color: 27.0% non-white). Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at all follow-ups. Adolescent positive attributes and social aptitudes were ascertained by specific subscales of Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the effect of maternal depression trajectories on offspring's outcomes, adjusting for potential confounding variables. Moderation was assessed with interaction terms. Adolescents from mothers who presented high-chronic levels of depressive symptoms during offspring's life have lower scores of positive attributes and social aptitudes. Boys exposed to maternal depression during their lifetime are more affected than girls regarding positive attributes, but this sex difference was not observed for social aptitudes. Interventions targeting the promotion of adaptive behavioral traits may represent an effective way to buffer the adverse impact of maternal depression on offspring development, especially for vulnerable groups such as male adolescents. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/22723-5 - Repercussion of maternal depression on children's socioemotional competences in early adolescence: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort
• Grantee: Jessica Mayumi Maruyama
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• 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