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. 2015 Sep;207(3):213-20.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.114.156620. Epub 2015 Jun 4.

Maternal depression during pregnancy and offspring depression in adulthood: role of child maltreatment

Dominic T Plant  1 , Carmine M Pariante  2 , Deborah Sharp  2 , Susan Pawlby  2
Affiliations

Maternal depression during pregnancy and offspring depression in adulthood: role of child maltreatment

Dominic T Plant et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that maternal depression during pregnancy predicts offspring depression in adolescence. Child maltreatment is also a risk factor for depression.

Aims: To investigate (a) whether there is an association between offspring exposure to maternal depression in pregnancy and depression in early adulthood, and (b) whether offspring child maltreatment mediates this association.

Method: Prospectively collected data on maternal clinical depression in pregnancy, offspring child maltreatment and offspring adulthood (18-25 years) DSM-IV depression were analysed in 103 mother-offspring dyads of the South London Child Development Study.

Results: Adult offspring exposed to maternal depression in pregnancy were 3.4 times more likely to have a DSM-IV depressive disorder, and 2.4 times more likely to have experienced child maltreatment, compared with non-exposed offspring. Path analysis revealed that offspring experience of child maltreatment mediated the association between exposure to maternal depression in pregnancy and depression in adulthood.

Conclusions: Maternal depression in pregnancy is a key vulnerability factor for offspring depression in early adulthood.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of study participation.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Path estimates for the multiple mediation model of the effect of maternal depression in pregnancy on offspring adulthood depression mediated by childhood risks. Note. Estimates are presented as unstandardised B coefficients. All path estimates were calculated whilst controlling for associated covariates. *P<0.05, **P<0.01.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Childhood environment and intergenerational transmission of depression.
    Moreira-Almeida A, de Souza MJ. Moreira-Almeida A, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2016 Feb;208(2):198. doi: 10.1192/bjp.208.2.198. Br J Psychiatry. 2016. PMID: 26834173 No abstract available.
  • Authors' reply.
    Plant DT, Pawlby S, Pariante CM, Sharp D. Plant DT, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2016 Feb;208(2):198-9. doi: 10.1192/bjp.208.2.198a. Br J Psychiatry. 2016. PMID: 26834174 No abstract available.

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