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The relationship between maternal psychopathology and offspring incontinence and constipation at school age: A

Gemma Sawyer1, Jon Heron2, Carol Joinson3

  • 1MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|May 8, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Maternal mental health issues, particularly postnatal anxiety, increase a child's risk of incontinence and constipation. The study highlights a critical postnatal period for these effects, emphasizing the need for vigilance in maternal and child health.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Child development
  • Gastrointestinal and urological disorders

Background:

  • Maternal psychopathology is linked to offspring incontinence and constipation.
  • The specific timing (antenatal vs. postnatal) of maternal depression/anxiety exposure and its impact on children remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum with childhood incontinence and constipation.
  • To determine if there is a critical or sensitive period for maternal psychopathology exposure.
  • To explore potential causal intrauterine effects.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) with 6489 participants.
  • Employed multivariable logistic regression to analyze maternal depression/anxiety (antenatal and postnatal) and child incontinence/constipation at age 7.
  • Applied a negative control design to assess for causal intrauterine effects.

Main Results:

  • Postnatal maternal psychopathology significantly increased the risk of offspring incontinence and constipation (e.g., postnatal anxiety and daytime wetting OR: 1.53).
  • Findings support a postnatal critical period model for maternal psychopathology's impact.
  • Antenatal maternal anxiety was associated with offspring constipation (OR: 1.57), but no causal intrauterine effect was found.

Conclusions:

  • Children exposed to maternal psychopathology in the postnatal period face a higher risk of incontinence and constipation.
  • Maternal anxiety showed stronger associations than depression.
  • Further research is needed to identify mechanisms linking maternal psychopathology to child continence issues.
Abstract

Keywords:
Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)Childhood incontinenceCohort studyConstipationMaternal psychopathology

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