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. 2016 Jan;46(2):415-24.
doi: 10.1017/S0033291715001956. Epub 2015 Oct 12.

Maternal depression and anxiety predicts the pattern of offspring symptoms during their transition to adulthood

H Gonçalves  1 , R M Pearson  2 , B L Horta  1 , D A González-Chica  3 , E Castilho  1 , M Damiani  4 , R C Lima  5 , D P Gigante  1 , F C Barros  6 , A Stein  7 , C G Victora  1
Affiliations

Maternal depression and anxiety predicts the pattern of offspring symptoms during their transition to adulthood

H Gonçalves et al. Psychol Med. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Episodes of depression and anxiety (D&A) during the transition from late adolescence to adulthood, particularly when persistent, are predictive of long-term disorders and associated public health burden. Understanding risk factors at this time is important to guide intervention. The current objective was to investigate the associations between maternal symptoms of D&A with offspring symptoms during their transition to adulthood.

Method: Data from a large population-based birth cohort study, in South Brazil, were used. Prospective associations between maternal D&A and offspring risk of these symptoms during the transition to adulthood (18/19, 24 and 30 years) were estimated.

Results: Maternal D&A in adolescence was associated with offspring symptoms across the transition to adulthood, associations were consistently stronger for females than for males. Daughters whose mothers reported D&A were 4.6 times (95% confidence interval 2.71-7.84) as likely to report D&A at all three time-points, than daughters of symptom-free mothers.

Conclusions: Maternal D&A is associated with persistent D&A during the daughter's transition to adulthood. Intervention strategies should consider the mother's mental health.

Keywords: Cohort study; common mental disorder; intergenerational; mental health; offspring.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Timing of SRQ-20 measurements in mothers and offspring.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Offspring risk of having increasing depression and anxiety (D&A) episodes according to maternal D&A.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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