Exposure to Maternal Depression During School Age: A Vulnerable Time

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 depre…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics