Maternal postpartum depression and children's emotional overeating: The mediating role of executive function

The literature shows connections between maternal depression, children's executive function (EF), and emotional overeating (EOE). This study examined the interplay between maternal postpartum depression, EF, and EOE. We hypothesized that higher levels of postpartum depression would lead to lower inhibition and emotional control and higher levels of EOE. We also explored whether inhibition and emotional control mediate the relationship between postpartum depression and EOE.

The analysis included 297 families (49 % of children were female at birth; 82 % of caregivers were White) from a longitudinal birth cohort study in the US Midwest (N = 468). Maternal self-reports assessed postpartum depression at six weeks using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Children's EF at 24 months was measured with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version, and EOE at 48 months was assessed using the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire.

While accounting for child gender, parent race, and education, there was a positive indirect effect of postpartum depression on EOE through children's inhibitory and emotional control difficulties. There was also a significant direct effect between postpartum depression and EOE. These results suggest that higher levels of postpartum depression in mothers may be associated with children's lower EF abilities (e.g., inhibition and emotional control), which may, in turn, lead to higher levels of EOE.

Early maternal depressive symptoms may have important implications for children's EF and EOE behaviors. The current findings stress the need to address symptoms of postpartum depression in mothers, even though symptoms may not reach clinical levels.