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Updated: May 19, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Postnatal depression mediates the relationship between infant and maternal sleep disruption and family dysfunction
A M Piteo1, R M Roberts, T Nettelbeck
1School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
Background:
Previous research has linked family sleep disruption and dysfunction in children; however, the mechanism is unknown.
Aims:
This study examined whether maternal sleep and postnatal depression (PND) mediate the relationship between infant sleep disruption and family dysfunction.
Study Design And Participants:
Mothers of infants aged 12 months old (N=111; 48% male) completed infant and parent sleep surveys, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Family Assessment Device.
Results:
Poor infant sleep was related to poor maternal sleep, which was associated with higher PND and higher level of family dysfunction.
Conclusions:
Results are consistent with the proposition that identification of both infant and maternal sleep problems during infancy can be relevant to reduction of PND and improved family functioning.
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