Lourdes Nieto1, Ma Asunción Lara2, Laura Navarrete1, Gabriela Manzo3. 1. Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz National Institute of Psychiatry, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, México, D.F. 14370, Mexico. 2. Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz National Institute of Psychiatry, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, México, D.F. 14370, Mexico. Electronic address: laracan@imp.edu.mx. 3. University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, United States.
Abstract
AIM: This study explores the association between infant temperament at six months postpartum and pre- and postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms. The association between infant temperament and stressful life events is also evaluated. METHOD: A total of 210 Mexican women were assessed during pregnancy (gestational age 32.39 ± 4.01) and at six months postpartum. The instruments used were: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Anxiety Subscale of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90R), a short form of Stressful Life Events and The Infant Characteristics Questionnaire, when infants were six months old. RESULTS: Although a mother's emotional state during pregnancy (depressive and anxiety symptoms and stressful life events) was not associated with difficult infant temperament, it was associated with depressive and anxious symptomatology during the postpartum period. Mothers with prenatal depressive symptoms who remained depressed and mothers who only had depression symptoms during the postpartum period reported having more difficult infants. Likewise, mothers with prenatal anxiety symptoms who maintained anxiety symptoms postpartum and mothers with anxiety symptoms during the postpartum period alone reported having more difficult infants. Comorbidity was found between depressive and anxious postnatal symptomatology in its association with difficult infant temperament. CONCLUSION: In this study, postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms played an important role in shaping difficult infant temperament. Comorbidity between the two conditions warrants clinical attention and additional research, since it is related to maternal perception of difficult infant temperament. Psychological interventions are required, since these women may require assistance with emotional adaptation in the transition to motherhood.
AIM: This study explores the association between infant temperament at six months postpartum and pre- and postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms. The association between infant temperament and stressful life events is also evaluated. METHOD: A total of 210 Mexican women were assessed during pregnancy (gestational age 32.39 ± 4.01) and at six months postpartum. The instruments used were: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Anxiety Subscale of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90R), a short form of Stressful Life Events and The Infant Characteristics Questionnaire, when infants were six months old. RESULTS: Although a mother's emotional state during pregnancy (depressive and anxiety symptoms and stressful life events) was not associated with difficult infant temperament, it was associated with depressive and anxious symptomatology during the postpartum period. Mothers with prenatal depressive symptoms who remained depressed and mothers who only had depression symptoms during the postpartum period reported having more difficult infants. Likewise, mothers with prenatal anxiety symptoms who maintained anxiety symptoms postpartum and mothers with anxiety symptoms during the postpartum period alone reported having more difficult infants. Comorbidity was found between depressive and anxious postnatal symptomatology in its association with difficult infant temperament. CONCLUSION: In this study, postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms played an important role in shaping difficult infant temperament. Comorbidity between the two conditions warrants clinical attention and additional research, since it is related to maternal perception of difficult infant temperament. Psychological interventions are required, since these women may require assistance with emotional adaptation in the transition to motherhood.
Authors: Quan Shen; Can-Ran Huang; Liu Rong; Shan Ju; Sharon R Redding; Yan-Qiong Ouyang; Rong Wang Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-04-08 Impact factor: 3.007