Abstract
In a prospective population-based study, mothers and fathers of 1,247 children reported their physical and mental health during
pregnancy, after delivery, within the child’s first 18 months of life, and at 12 years. Additionally, maternal health clinic
nurses rated parents’ well-being and perceived need for support. At age 12, child outcomes were also measured using CBCL and
YSR externalizing and internalizing scales. Results indicate that both ante- and postnatal maternal distress predicted future
externalizing problems in offspring. Conversely, fathers’ postnatal distress predicted subsequent internalizing problems.
Furthermore, mother’s depressed mood in the first trimester best predicted the child’s externalizing problems at age 12. Nurses’s
ratings of mother’s antenatal and perinatal need for support, perinatal distress, and family’s need for support were associated
with both internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12. Maternal antenatal distress increases the risk of offspring’s
externalizing problems in preadolescense, and postnatal distress in either parent increases the risk of internalizing problems.
Parental self-reports and indirect ratings from health care providers during pregnancy and infancy may therefore reliably
recognize offspring at risk for subsequent psychiatric symptomatology.
pregnancy, after delivery, within the child’s first 18 months of life, and at 12 years. Additionally, maternal health clinic
nurses rated parents’ well-being and perceived need for support. At age 12, child outcomes were also measured using CBCL and
YSR externalizing and internalizing scales. Results indicate that both ante- and postnatal maternal distress predicted future
externalizing problems in offspring. Conversely, fathers’ postnatal distress predicted subsequent internalizing problems.
Furthermore, mother’s depressed mood in the first trimester best predicted the child’s externalizing problems at age 12. Nurses’s
ratings of mother’s antenatal and perinatal need for support, perinatal distress, and family’s need for support were associated
with both internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12. Maternal antenatal distress increases the risk of offspring’s
externalizing problems in preadolescense, and postnatal distress in either parent increases the risk of internalizing problems.
Parental self-reports and indirect ratings from health care providers during pregnancy and infancy may therefore reliably
recognize offspring at risk for subsequent psychiatric symptomatology.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10578-012-0326-x
- Authors
- Leena Pihlakoski, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20014 Turku, Finland
- Andre Sourander, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, 20014 Turku, Finland
- Minna Aromaa, Turku City Hospital, Turku, Finland
- John A. Rönning, Institute of Medicine, University of Tromsö, Tromsö, Norway
- Päivi Rautava, Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Hans Helenius, Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Matti Sillanpää, Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3327
- Print ISSN 0009-398X