Rohan Borschmann1,2,3,4,5, Emma Molyneaux4, Elizabeth Spry1,6, Paul Moran7, Louise M Howard4,5, Jacqui A Macdonald1,6,8, Stephanie J Brown9,10, Margarita Moreno-Betancur8,11, Craig A Olsson1,6,10, George C Patton1,10. 1. Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. 2. Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 3. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 4. Section for Women's Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. 5. South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. 6. Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. 7. Centre for Academic Mental Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. 8. Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. 9. Healthy Mothers Healthy Families, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. 10. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 11. Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population of Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-harm in young people is associated with later problems in social and emotional development. However, it is unknown whether self-harm in young women continues to be a marker of vulnerability on becoming a parent. This study prospectively describes the associations between pre-conception self-harm, maternal depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding problems. METHODS: The Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (VIHCS) is a follow-up to the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS) in Australia. Socio-demographic and health variables were assessed at 10 time-points (waves) from ages 14 to 35, including self-reported self-harm at waves 3-9. VIHCS enrolment began in 2006 (when participants were aged 28-29 years), by contacting VAHCS women every 6 months to identify pregnancies over a 7-year period. Perinatal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the third trimester, and 2 and 12 months postpartum. Mother-infant bonding problems were assessed with the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire at 2 and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-four pregnancies from 384 women were included. One in 10 women (9.7%) reported pre-conception self-harm. Women who reported self-harming in young adulthood (ages 20-29) reported higher levels of perinatal depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding problems at all perinatal time points [perinatal depressive symptoms adjusted β = 5.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.42-7.39; mother-infant bonding problems adjusted β = 7.51, 95% CI 3.09-11.92]. There was no evidence that self-harm in adolescence (ages 15-17) was associated with either perinatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Self-harm during young adulthood may be an indicator of future vulnerability to perinatal mental health and mother-infant bonding problems.
BACKGROUND: Self-harm in young people is associated with later problems in social and emotional development. However, it is unknown whether self-harm in young women continues to be a marker of vulnerability on becoming a parent. This study prospectively describes the associations between pre-conception self-harm, maternal depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding problems. METHODS: The Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (VIHCS) is a follow-up to the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study (VAHCS) in Australia. Socio-demographic and health variables were assessed at 10 time-points (waves) from ages 14 to 35, including self-reported self-harm at waves 3-9. VIHCS enrolment began in 2006 (when participants were aged 28-29 years), by contacting VAHCS women every 6 months to identify pregnancies over a 7-year period. Perinatal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the third trimester, and 2 and 12 months postpartum. Mother-infant bonding problems were assessed with the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire at 2 and 12 months postpartum. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-four pregnancies from 384 women were included. One in 10 women (9.7%) reported pre-conception self-harm. Women who reported self-harming in young adulthood (ages 20-29) reported higher levels of perinatal depressive symptoms and mother-infant bonding problems at all perinatal time points [perinatal depressive symptoms adjusted β = 5.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.42-7.39; mother-infant bonding problems adjusted β = 7.51, 95% CI 3.09-11.92]. There was no evidence that self-harm in adolescence (ages 15-17) was associated with either perinatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Self-harm during young adulthood may be an indicator of future vulnerability to perinatal mental health and mother-infant bonding problems.
Authors: Elise Paul; Alex Kwong; Paul Moran; Susan Pawlby; Louise M Howard; Rebecca M Pearson Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2021-07-04 Impact factor: 4.839