Inattention symptoms in early pregnancy predict parenting skills and infant maltreatment during the first year of life

Author(s)

Jordana Verano de Oliveira ^[1] ; Daniel Fatori ^[2] ; Elizabeth Shephard ; Mauro Xavier Neto ^[4] ; Alicia Matijasevich ^[5] ; Alexandre Archanjo Ferraro ^[6] ; Luis Augusto Rohde ; Anna Maria Chiesa ^[8] ; Euripedes Constantino Miguel ^[9] ; Guilherme V. Polanczyk ^[10]

Affiliation

^[1] Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP). Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

^[2] Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP). Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

^[4] FMUSP - Brasil

^[5] Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, FMUSP - Brasil

^[6] Departamento de Pediatria, FMUSP - Brasil

^[8] Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - Brasil

^[9] Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP). Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

^[10] Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP). Departamento de Psiquiatria - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria; v. 44, n. 4, p. 388-400, 2022-06-24.

Abstract

Objective: Maternal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has not been investigated in relation to parenting skills in adolescent mothers. This study investigated whether maternal inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms early in pregnancy predict poorer parenting skills and infant maltreatment during the first year of life in adolescent mothers living in adverse environmental conditions. Methods: The participants in this study were 80 adolescent mothers aged 14-19 years and their babies who were taking part in a randomized controlled trial on the effects of a home-visiting program on infant development. Symptoms of maternal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were assessed in the first trimester of pregnancy. Parenting skills (maternal competence, attachment to the baby, home environment) and child maltreatment were assessed when the infants were aged 6 and 12 months. Multilevel linear regression models were constructed to test the extent to which prenatal maternal inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms predicted these parenting variables during the first year of the infant’s life. Results: Prenatal inattention symptoms significantly predicted lower maternal competence and attachment, a poorer home environment, and greater maltreatment during the first year of life. Hyperactivity did not significantly predict parenting skills or maltreatment. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that inattention symptoms may interfere with parenting abilities in adolescent mothers and should be considered in early intervention programs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/22455-8 - Early childhood interventions and trajectories of cognitive, social and emotional development
• Grantee: Guilherme Vanoni Polanczyk
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants