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Updated: Jan 12, 2026
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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
Published on: June 13, 2021
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Infant emotionality and maternal depression at 6 months postpartum
Karley Mariano1, Sandra J Weiss1
1Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|November 5, 2025
Summary
Infant negative affectivity, not emotional reactivity, is linked to maternal postpartum depression symptoms. Early assessment of infant temperament and mother-infant interactions is crucial for intervention.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Infant psychology
- Maternal mental health
Background:
- Postpartum depression (PPD) poses global health risks, impacting maternal well-being and mother-infant relationships.
- Limited research addresses the influence of infant characteristics on PPD severity or development.
- Infant traits may play a significant role in maternal mental health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between infant emotionality (negative affectivity and emotional reactivity) and maternal depressive symptoms at six months postpartum.
- To determine if infant characteristics predict maternal postpartum depression.
Main Methods:
- Mothers completed questionnaires on depression history and symptoms at six months postpartum.
- Infant negative affectivity was assessed via maternal report.
- Infant emotional reactivity was measured during a laboratory stressor protocol (Still Face Paradigm).
Main Results:
- Infant negative affectivity, but not emotional reactivity, significantly predicted maternal depressive symptoms (β = 0.93, p = 0.002).
- Maternal history of depression or prenatal depression did not predict infant negativity.
- Results support a directional influence of infant negative affectivity on maternal postpartum depression.
Conclusions:
- Early assessment of infant temperament and mother-infant interactions is recommended, particularly for mothers with a history of depression.
- Interventions targeting mothers with infants exhibiting challenging affective behaviors may mitigate PPD development or severity.
- Understanding infant characteristics is vital for comprehensive PPD prevention and management strategies.
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