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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

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Association of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Perinatal Maternal Depression with Early Childhood Behavioral

Lauren C Shuffrey1, Santiago Morales2, Melanie H Jacobson3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.

Child Development
|May 3, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Gestational diabetes and maternal depression during pregnancy are linked to behavioral issues in children. These associations, particularly with autism behaviors, were more pronounced in males and when maternal depression was severe.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Child developmental psychology
  • Maternal-fetal medicine

Background:

  • Maternal mental health significantly influences child development.
  • Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing concern during pregnancy.
  • Understanding the interplay between GDM, maternal depression, and child behavior is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between GDM, prenatal, and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms with child behavioral problems.
  • To explore how perinatal maternal depressive symptoms moderate the GDM-child behavior link.
  • To examine sex-specific effects of GDM on child behavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 2379 children within the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program (2009-2021).
  • Assessed externalizing, internalizing, and autism spectrum problems using the Preschool Child Behavior Checklist.
  • Analyzed associations considering GDM, prenatal, and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms, including moderation and stratified analyses by sex.

Main Results:

  • Both GDM and maternal depressive symptoms (prenatal and postnatal) were associated with increased child externalizing and internalizing problems.
  • GDM was linked to higher autism behaviors, but only when children experienced perinatal maternal depressive symptoms above the median.
  • Stratified analyses indicated that the association between GDM and child outcomes was significant in males only.

Conclusions:

  • Gestational diabetes and maternal depressive symptoms are independent risk factors for child behavioral issues.
  • Perinatal maternal depression exacerbates the impact of GDM on autism-related behaviors in children.
  • The findings highlight sex-specific vulnerabilities, with males showing a stronger association between GDM and adverse behavioral outcomes.

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