Symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety and their effect on the child's weight status four years after delivery

ABSTRACT

We examined the association of maternal depression and anxiety symptoms with the weight status of children at preschool age. The current study is a cross-sectional study, which was carried out in the homes of the participants between July 2016 and August 2017. Maternal depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Of the 216 children included in the study, 69.4%, 21.3% and 9.3% were classified as ≤85th, >85th and <97th and >85th percentile, respectively. The prevalence of moderate/severe maternal depression and anxiety symptoms was 20.1% and 19.5%, respectively. Children whose mothers had moderate/severe symptoms of depression and minimal/mild symptoms of anxiety were more likely to have excess body weight at preschool age than children whose mothers had both minimal/mild symptoms of depression and anxiety. We found that maternal depression symptoms are associated with excess body weight in children at preschool age.

KEYWORDS:

• Maternal anxiety
• depression
• overweight
• excess body weight
• children
• preschool

Acknowledgments

We thank the Municipal Health Office of Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, for allowing the data to be collected from their facilities, and Kerstin Markendorf for the English revision.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Fundo de Apoio à Pesquisa - FAP/UNIVILLE, Brazil [grant numbers 4555/2011, 01/2014 and 02/2016].

Notes on contributors

Bruna Constantino

Bruna Constantino received an M.Sc. in the Post-Graduation Program in Health and Environment at University of Joinville Region, Brazil. Her research focus is on maternal depression and anxiety symptoms, and divides her time between conducting research and her private practice.

Jessica Cristina da Silva

Jessica Cristina da Silva is psychologist and research assistant on the PREDI Study at University of Joinville Region, Brazil. She divides her time between conducting research and her private practice.

Maikon de Sousa Michels

Maikon de Sousa Michels, M.Sc. is an Associated Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Joinville Region, Brazil. His clinic and research focus is on cognitive behavioural psychotherapies, and in neuropsychology.

Marco Fabio Mastroeni

Marco Fabio Mastroeni, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Post-Graduation Program in Health and Environment at University of Joinville Region, Brazil. His research interests focus on all aspects of maternal and child health, including the impact of maternal mental health on the weight status of infants and young children.