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. 2019 Dec 23;17(1):123.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17010123.

Maternal Depression: Relationship to Food Insecurity and Preschooler Fruit/Vegetable Consumption

Wendy L Ward  1 , Taren M Swindle  2 , Angela L Kyzer  2 , Nicola Edge  2 , Jasmin Sumrall  3 , Leanne Whiteside-Mansell  2
Affiliations

Maternal Depression: Relationship to Food Insecurity and Preschooler Fruit/Vegetable Consumption

Wendy L Ward et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Maternal Depression (MD) has been implicated in the etiology of obesity. The present study investigated MD and both child fruit/vegetable consumption (FVC) and household food insecurity (FI) in an early childhood population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Arkansas, United States, in 26 Head Start centers. Teachers obtained the Family Map (FM), an interview assessment tool used by Head Start staff to identify potential risk factors that affect child learning and development. The FM contains a two-item screener of parent depression-the Patient Health Questionaire-2, two questions about family FI, and two questions about FVC. The FM was completed in 693 households. Chi square analyses and logistic regressions utilizing adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios were utilized to compare differences in risk for children of mothers with no symptoms compared to mothers with low- or high-level depressive symptoms. Results: Children whose mothers had high MD were 2.90 (CI: 1.21-7.00) and 7.81 (CI: 3.71-16.45) times more likely to be at risk for low FVC and FI, respectively, compared to children of mothers with no MD. Similar findings but at lower magnitude were found for mothers with low symptoms of MD in comparison with mothers with no MD-both for Low FVC (1.57 times more likely; CI: 1.01-2.45) and FI (2.14 times more likely; CI: 1.28-3.58). The results presented are Odds Ratios from the multivariable adjusted models. Conclusions: Implications for the etiology of obesity, prevention/intervention efforts, and future research are offered, including recommended addition of maternal depression and household FI screening in early childhood programs.

Keywords: child development; early childhood; food insecurity; fruit/vegetable consumption; maternal depression; pediatric obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Leanne Whiteside-Mansell and UAMS have a financial interest in a technology discussed in this presentation/publication. These financial interests have been reviewed and approved in accordance with the UAMS conflict of interest policies.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual Model Depicting the Relationship Between Maternal Depression and Obesity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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