Reported Maternal Postpartum Depression and Risk of Childhood Psychopathology

Childhood emotional and behavioural disorders are prevalent, can cause significant maladaptation and often persist into adulthood.
Previous literature investigating the potential influence of postpartum depression (PPD) is inconsistent. The present study
examined the association between PPD and childhood behavioural/emotional outcomes, while considering a number of potentially
important factors. Data were analyzed prospectively from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth at two follow-up
periods (ages 2–3, N = 1,452 and ages 4–5, N = 1,357). PPD was measured using the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV-TR. Four
behavioural/emotional outcomes were analyzed at each follow-up. For both age groups, logistic regression models were used
to estimate the associations between PPD and each of the behavioural and emotional outcomes adjusting for child, obstetric,
environmental and socio-demographic factors. PPD was associated with the Emotional Disorder-Anxiety among 2–3 year olds [OR = 2.38,
95 % CI 1.15, 4.91]. Among 2–3 year olds, hostile/ineffective parenting was associated with Hyperactivity-Inattention [OR = 1.88,
95 % CI 1.14, 3.11] and Physical Aggression-Opposition [OR = 2.95, 95 % CI 1.77, 4.92]. Among 4–5 year olds, hostile/ineffective
parenting was associated with Hyperactivity-Inattention [OR = 2.34, 95 % CI 1.22, 4.47], Emotional Disorder-Anxiety [OR = 2.16,
95 % CI 1.00, 4.67], Physical Aggression-Conduct Disorder [OR = 1.96, 95 % CI 1.09, 3.53] and Indirect Aggression [OR = 1.87,
95 % CI 1.09, 3.21]. The findings of the present study do not suggest that PPD is independently associated with any enduring
sequelae in the realm of child behavioural/emotional psychology, though the symptoms of PPD may be giving way to other important
mediating factors such as parenting style.