Exposure to Maternal Depression During School Age: A Vulnerable Time

Martin T. Stein, MD

Children's exposure between ages 6 to 12 years elevated their likelihood for high-risk health behaviors in adolescence.

Attention to maternal depression in pediatrics has focused primarily on the postpartum period. However, parental depressive symptoms might negatively affect learning of reciprocal interactions and emotional regulation in older children.

To examine the effect of childhood exposure to maternal depression on adolescent health-risk behaviors, investigators conducted a nationally representative, prospective study of 2910 mother-child pairs in Canada who were enrolled when children were aged 2 to 5 years and followed until children were aged 16 to 17 years. Health data on mothers and children were collected every 2 years; mothers completed questionnaires for their children until they reached age 10 or 11 years.

Adolescents exposed to maternal depressive symptoms during middle childhood (ages 6–12 years) were at significantly higher risk for engaging in risky health behaviors during mid-adolescence (ages 16–17 years) compared with those exposed to very little maternal depression between ages 4 and 15 years. These behaviors included alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use, early initiation of their use, and violent and nonviolent delinquent behaviors.

Citation(s):

Wickham ME et al. Maternal depressive symptoms during childhood and risky adolescent health behaviors. Pediatrics 2015 Jan; 135:59.