The links between maternal mental health during pregnancy and their children's development have already been well documented. To go further, this study examined the impact of anxiety or symptoms of maternal depression during pregnancy on long-term emotional and behavioral symptom trajectories in children. In addition, this study also sought to observe the potential effect of professional psychological support during pregnancy on children's trajectories.
Using validated questionnaires, maternal mental health during pregnancy was assessed, and emotional and behavioral trajectories of their children over time were made. These trajectories span from the children's age of 3 to 11 years. The results of this study showed that emotional and behavioral problems were more likely to be externalized in early childhood and then internalized as children grow older. This study also revealed that children of mothers with both anxiety and depression symptoms during pregnancy had a higher risk of having consistent emotional and behavioral problems over time than children of mothers with no symptoms. Other factors that may influence this link, such as socioeconomic status, or whether the mother is supported by her environment, were taken into account in the analyzes.
It is interesting to note that the risk of emotional and behavioral problems was reduced in children whose mothers had consulted a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, during pregnancy.
These results highlight the importance of detecting potential mental health difficulties encountered during pregnancy. In addition to the early prenatal interview recently made compulsory, this study suggests the implementation of personalized monitoring. It would also be useful for further research to be conducted to see the role of mothers' partners in these processes.
Authors:
Kallas K-A, Marr K, Moirangthem S, Heude B, Koehl M, van der Waerden J, Downes N. Maternal Mental Health Care Matters: The Impact of Prenatal Depressive and Anxious Symptoms on Child Emotional and Behavioural Trajectories in the French EDEN Cohort. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023; 12(3):1120. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12031120 
