Maternal depression trajectories in childhood, subsequent maltreatment, and adolescent emotion regulation and self-esteem: the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort

Maternal depression during the perinatal period and its relationship with emotion regulation in young adulthood: An fMRI study in a prenatal birth cohort

BACKGROUND

Maternal perinatal mental health is essential for optimal brain development and mental health of the offspring. We evaluated whether maternal depression during the perinatal period and early life of the offspring might be selectively associated with altered brain function during emotion regulation and whether those may further correlate with physiological responses and the typical use of emotion regulation strategies.

METHODS

Participants included 163 young adults (49% female, 28-30 years) from the ELSPAC prenatal birth cohort who took part in its neuroimaging follow-up and had complete mental health data from the perinatal period and early life. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured mid-pregnancy, 2 weeks, 6 months, and 18 months after birth. Regulation of negative affect was studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging, concurrent skin conductance response (SCR) and heart rate variability (HRV), and assessment of typical emotion regulation strategy.

RESULTS

Maternal depression 2 weeks after birth interacted with sex and showed a relationship with greater brain response during emotion regulation in a right frontal cluster in women. Moreover, this brain response mediated the relationship between greater maternal depression 2 weeks after birth and greater suppression of emotions in young adult women (ab = 0.11, SE = 0.05, 95% CI [0.016; 0.226]). The altered brain response during emotion regulation and the typical emotion regulation strategy were also as sociated with SCR and HRV.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that maternal depression 2 weeks after birth predisposes female offspring to maladaptive emotion regulation skills and particularly to emotion suppression in young adulthood.

Prenatal anxiety recognition model integrating multimodal physiological signal

Anxiety among pregnant women can significantly impact their overall well-being. However, the development of data-driven HCI interventions for this demographic is often hindered by data scarcity and collection challenges. In this study, we leverage the Empatica E4 wristband to gather physiological data from pregnant women in both resting and relaxed states. Additionally, we collect subjective reports on their anxiety levels. We integrate features from signals including Blood Volume Pulse (BVP), Skin Temperature (SKT), and Inter-Beat Interval (IBI). Employing a Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm, we construct a model capable of evaluating anxiety levels in pregnant women. Our model attains an emotion recognition accuracy of 69.3%, marking achievements in HCI technology tailored for this specific user group. Furthermore, we introduce conceptual ideas for biofeedback on maternal emotions and its interactive mechanism, shedding light on improved monitoring and timely intervention strategies to enhance the emotional health of pregnant women.

Association between maternal dissatisfaction with oneself at birth and shaking and smothering toward the offspring up to 18 months old

BACKGROUND

A mother who feels dissatisfaction with herself may resort to abusive behavior such as shaking or smothering toward their offspring. Understanding this association can inform effective prevention strategies.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the associations between maternal feelings of dissatisfaction with oneself and infant physical abuse.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The study included 434 mothers who had recently given birth in two obstetric wards in a relatively wealthy area in Tokyo, Japan.

METHODS

Adopting a longitudinal design, the study used questionnaires post-childbirth to measure mothers' dissatisfaction with themselves. This involved evaluating perceptions of failing to meet personal standards or self-image. Physical abuse (specifically shaking or smothering) in infants was tracked at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Data analysis comprised multilevel analysis, group-based trajectory modeling, and multivariable logistic regression to explore the association between maternal dissatisfaction and child physical abuse.

RESULTS

Multilevel analysis showed that mothers with middle or high dissatisfaction with themselves were more likely to abuse their infant compared to mothers with low dissatisfaction with themselves (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] 5.71, 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.06-30.78 and aOR 12.47, 95 % CI: 2.11-73.69, respectively). Trajectory analyses indicated that mothers with middle or high dissatisfaction with themselves were consistently more likely to abuse their infants up to 18 months (aOR 8.08, 95 % CI 1.61-40.53 and aOR 6.42, 95 % CI 1.27-32.43, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight a robust association between mother's dissatisfaction with themselves and a higher risk of infant physical abuse. These insights call for a comprehensive review of preventive measures for childhood physical abuse.

The Relationship Between Negative Self-Concept, Trauma, and Maltreatment in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

Experiencing trauma in childhood is a global public health issue linked to worse physical and mental health outcomes, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Self-concept is a transdiagnostic concept linked to various psychopathologies and understanding its unique relationship to trauma is important. This meta-analysis aimed to understand the size of the effect between trauma and maltreatment and self-concept in children and adolescents. The current meta-analysis searched PubMed, PILOTS, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria involved studies with defined trauma exposure, valid measures of self-concept, and participants' mean age under 18 years old. One-hundred-and-thirty-four studies were included in the meta-analysis (N = 255,334). A random-effects meta-analysis was performed. A small negative relationship was observed between trauma exposure and self-concept (r = - 0.20, 95% CI - 0.22, - 0.18). This relationship was significantly moderated by some variables (type and nature of trauma exposure) but not others (participant gender, type of self-concept measure, quality of studies, country economic status). A small relationship between trauma exposure and negative self-concept in children and adolescents was detected, with repeated trauma exposure and type of trauma exposure moderating this relationship. This provides important directions for clinical practice around providing support for those exposed or most vulnerable to experiencing trauma.

[Association between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression: the chain mediating effect of maternal depression and parenting style]

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression and the mediating effect of maternal depression and parenting style.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted. The cluster random sampling method was used to select 2 572 adolescents from 7 middle schools in Shanghai, China, from April to May, 2021. A survey was performed for these adolescents and their mothers. The research tools included a general information questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, short-form of Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran, and Children's Depression Inventory. A structural equation model was established, and the Bootstrap method was used to investigate the mediating effect.

RESULTS

The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 12.71% (327/2 572) among the adolescents. The scores of maternal job burnout, maternal depression, and negative parenting style were positively correlated with the score of adolescent depression (P<0.05), and the score of positive parenting style was negatively correlated with the score of adolescent depression (P<0.05). Maternal depression and parenting style played a mediating role between maternal job burnout and adolescent depression, including the individual mediating effect of maternal depression, the individual mediating effect of positive parenting style, and the chain mediating effect of maternal depression-negative/positive parenting style.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal job burnout may affect adolescent depression through the mediating effect of depression, parenting style, and depression-parenting style, suggesting that the symptoms of adolescent depression can be reduced by alleviating maternal job burnout, improving maternal depression, increasing positive parenting behaviors, and reducing negative parenting behaviors.