Jianghong Liu1, Xiaopeng Ji2, Guanghai Wang3, Yuli Li4, Patrick W Leung5, Jennifer Pinto-Martin6. 1. University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Electronic address: jhliu@nursing.upenn.edu. 2. University of Delaware School of Nursing , Newark, DE, United States. 3. Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Pediatric Translational Medicine Institution, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 4. Shandong University School of Nursing, Jinan, China. 5. Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 6. University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the association of mother's perceived levels of depression and happiness across all trimesters of pregnancy and after delivery on their children's sleep problems, as well as examine the possible mediating effect of children's behavioral problems. METHODS: Participants included 1257 children (54% boys, mean age = 5.74 ± 0.48 years). Pre- and postnatal maternal emotions were self-reported using a 5-point scale for happiness and a 3-point scale for depressive emotions. Children reported sleep and behavioral problems using the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Adjusted models showed that children of women reporting depressive emotions during either the postnatal period (β = 3.07, p = 0.01) or both prenatal and postnatal periods (β = 2.91, p = 0.01) were more likely to report sleep disturbances. By contrast, children of women reporting higher levels of happiness in the second (β = -1.91, p = 0.04) and third (β = -2.27, p = 0.001) trimesters were less likely to report sleep problems. LIMITATIONS: Differences in maternal-report of children's behaviors could reflect memory and recall bias, and maternal emotions were assessed by researcher-designed single item measures. All measures were completed by a single reporter. Other associated factors should be considered in clarifying the complex associations. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depressive emotions during pre- and postnatal periods were associated with an increase in children's sleep problems, while increased happiness during pregnancy was associated with a decrease in children's sleep problems. Children's behavioral problems significantly mediated these relationships. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between maternal pre- and postnatal emotions and children's sleep behavior in an Asian sample.
BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the association of mother's perceived levels of depression and happiness across all trimesters of pregnancy and after delivery on their children's sleep problems, as well as examine the possible mediating effect of children's behavioral problems. METHODS:Participants included 1257 children (54% boys, mean age = 5.74 ± 0.48 years). Pre- and postnatal maternal emotions were self-reported using a 5-point scale for happiness and a 3-point scale for depressive emotions. Children reported sleep and behavioral problems using the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Adjusted models showed that children of women reporting depressive emotions during either the postnatal period (β = 3.07, p = 0.01) or both prenatal and postnatal periods (β = 2.91, p = 0.01) were more likely to report sleep disturbances. By contrast, children of women reporting higher levels of happiness in the second (β = -1.91, p = 0.04) and third (β = -2.27, p = 0.001) trimesters were less likely to report sleep problems. LIMITATIONS: Differences in maternal-report of children's behaviors could reflect memory and recall bias, and maternal emotions were assessed by researcher-designed single item measures. All measures were completed by a single reporter. Other associated factors should be considered in clarifying the complex associations. CONCLUSIONS:Maternal depressive emotions during pre- and postnatal periods were associated with an increase in children's sleep problems, while increased happiness during pregnancy was associated with a decrease in children's sleep problems. Children's behavioral problems significantly mediated these relationships. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between maternal pre- and postnatal emotions and children's sleep behavior in an Asian sample.
Authors: Lilly Shanahan; William E Copeland; Adrian Angold; Carmen L Bondy; E Jane Costello Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2014-02-20 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Jianghong Liu; Siyuan Cao; Zehang Chen; Adrian Raine; Alexandra Hanlon; Yuexian Ai; Guoping Zhou; Chonghuai Yan; Patrick W Leung; Linda McCauley; Jennifer Pinto-Martin Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2015-08-31 Impact factor: 7.196