Prenatal determinants of depressive symptoms in childhood: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand

Background: Young people who experience depression are at an increased risk of adverse psychosocial and developmental outcomes that can persist over the lifecourse. Identifying maternal prenatal risk factors that may contribute to childhood depressive symptoms can be useful when considering mental health intervention. Methods: The current study included 3,925 children from the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) study who had complete data for self-reported depressive symptoms and mothers' antenatal information. Depressive symptoms were measured at age 8 using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CESD-10) short form questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine the relationship between prenatal factors and depressive symptoms at age 8. Results: When controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, our hierarchical linear regression revealed that the most significant maternal prenatal predictors of high depressive symptoms at age 8 were maternal perceived stress, smoking during pregnancy, body mass index (BMI) in the overweight/obese range, and paracetamol intake. Limitations: One limitation with the current study was a reduction in the sample due to attrition. This may have affected our statistical power, reflected in our modest effect sizes. The sample remained both socioeconomically and ethnically diverse, however our results should be interpreted with respect to the sample and not the whole New Zealand population. Conclusions: A combination of maternal mental health and lifestyle factors contribute to depressive symptoms for children, possibly through foetal programming. Our results emphasise the importance of mental and physical health support for expectant mothers.

Automated summary

This study found that maternal perceived stress, smoking during pregnancy, body mass index (BMI) in the overweight/obese range, and paracetamol intake were the most significant prenatal predictors of high depressive symptoms in children at age 8.