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Does having a difficult child lead to poor maternal mental health?
Ann M Kingsbury1, Alexandra Clavarino2, Abdullah Mamun1
1The University of Queensland, School of Public Health, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia.
Public Health
|April 14, 2017
Summary
Maternal mental health impairment at 21 years post birth was linked to child behavior problems at ages 5 and 14. This highlights a mutual vulnerability in the mother-child relationship, impacting child development and maternal well-being.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Maternal mental health
- Child psychopathology
Background:
- Maternal psychopathology is known to affect offspring mental health.
- The reverse pathway, where child behavior problems influence maternal mental health, is less understood.
- Approximately 10% of children experience mental impairment, necessitating investigation into bidirectional influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between child behavior problems at ages 5 and 14 years and maternal mental health.
- To investigate the potential reverse causal pathway in maternal and child psychopathology.
- To assess the long-term impact of early childhood behavior on maternal mental health.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study utilizing data from 3650 women in the Mater and University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy birth cohort.
- Maternal mental health assessed using the Mental Disorder Screening Tool at 21 years post birth.
- Child behavior problems (internalizing, social/attention/thought disorder, aggression) measured using the Child Behavior Check List at ages 5 and 14 years; logistic regression used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Child internalizing behaviors and social/attention/thought disorder at 5 years were associated with maternal mental health impairment at 21 years post birth.
- All measures of child behavior problems at 14 years were significantly associated with maternal mental health impairment.
- Mothers of children with behavior problems at 14 years were 2-3 times more likely to meet criteria for mental health impairment.
Conclusions:
- Mothers of children exhibiting behavior problems at ages 5 and 14 years demonstrated a higher likelihood of mental health impairment at 21 years post birth.
- Findings suggest a mutual vulnerability in mental health between mothers and children.
- Child health professionals should consider the bidirectional relationship in assessing and managing maternal and child mental health.