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From adolescence to parenthood: a multi-decade study of preconception mental health problems and postpartum

J A Macdonald1,2,3, C Greenwood4,5, P Letcher6

  • 1Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 225 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. jacqui.macdonald@deakin.edu.au.

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|October 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Persistent depression and anxiety from adolescence into young adulthood are linked to weaker parent-infant bonding one year after birth for both mothers and fathers.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Perinatal mental health
  • Parent-infant relationships

Background:

  • Mental health during adolescence and young adulthood can impact later life outcomes.
  • Early parent-infant bonding is crucial for child development.
  • Understanding long-term mental health effects on parenting is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between adolescent and young adult anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-infant bonding.
  • To examine these associations separately for mothers and fathers at one year postpartum.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, intergenerational cohort study.
  • Self-reported depression and anxiety data collected across adolescence and young adulthood.
  • Parent-infant bonding assessed at one year postpartum using generalized estimating equations.

Main Results:

  • Persistent depressive symptoms were associated with lower maternal and paternal bonding scores.
  • Persistent anxiety symptoms were also linked to reduced maternal and paternal bonding.
  • These associations remained significant, though attenuated, after accounting for concurrent postpartum mental health.

Conclusions:

  • Long-term symptoms of depression and anxiety from adolescence through young adulthood predict poorer emotional bonding with infants.
  • This effect is observed in both mothers and fathers.
  • Early and persistent mental health challenges may have lasting impacts on parenting.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdolescenceAnxietyDepressionParent–infant bondPostpartum

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