Abstract
To examine the association between maternal depressive symptoms during early childhood of their offspring and later overweight
in the children. Only children (n = 1,090) whose weights and heights were measured at least once for three time points (grades
one, three and six) from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study were included. Maternal depressive
symptoms, defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score of 16 or greater, were assessed using
CES-D when the child was 1, 24, and 36 months. Childhood overweight was based on standardized height and weight measures taken
during the interviews, and was defined according to appropriate CDC age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles. Generalized estimating
equation was used to examine the impact of maternal depressive symptoms on the childhood overweight after adjusting for covariates.
Compared to children of mothers without depression at any of the three time points, when children were one, 24 and 36 months
of age, children of mothers with depression at all three time points were 1.695 times more likely to be overweight after adjusting
for other child characteristics (95 % CI = 1.001–2.869). When further adjusted for maternal characteristics, children of mothers
with depression at all three time points were 2.13 times more likely to be overweight (95 % CI = 1.05–4.31). Persistent maternal
depressive symptoms may be associated with an increased risk of childhood overweight in their offspring. Children of mothers
with depression may benefit from special attention in terms of obesity prevention.
in the children. Only children (n = 1,090) whose weights and heights were measured at least once for three time points (grades
one, three and six) from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study were included. Maternal depressive
symptoms, defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score of 16 or greater, were assessed using
CES-D when the child was 1, 24, and 36 months. Childhood overweight was based on standardized height and weight measures taken
during the interviews, and was defined according to appropriate CDC age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles. Generalized estimating
equation was used to examine the impact of maternal depressive symptoms on the childhood overweight after adjusting for covariates.
Compared to children of mothers without depression at any of the three time points, when children were one, 24 and 36 months
of age, children of mothers with depression at all three time points were 1.695 times more likely to be overweight after adjusting
for other child characteristics (95 % CI = 1.001–2.869). When further adjusted for maternal characteristics, children of mothers
with depression at all three time points were 2.13 times more likely to be overweight (95 % CI = 1.05–4.31). Persistent maternal
depressive symptoms may be associated with an increased risk of childhood overweight in their offspring. Children of mothers
with depression may benefit from special attention in terms of obesity prevention.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-012-1080-1
- Authors
- Liang Wang, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70259, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
- James L. Anderson, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70259, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
- William T. Dalton III, Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA
- Tiejian Wu, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70259, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
- Xianchen Liu, Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Shimin Zheng, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70259, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
- Xuefeng Liu, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70259, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875