Postpartum Depression, Complications During Pregnancy, and Offspring Behavior Problems in Early Childhood

Background: Complications during pregnancy, postpartum and current maternal depression are risk factors that may affect child behavior in early and middle childhood. Objectives: This longitudinal study examined the associations between complications during pregnancy, postpartum and current depression, and child internalizing and externalizing behavior problems among preschool and school-aged children. Methods: Data was collected in two waves. Wave 1 included a representative sample of 720 Israeli Jewish mothers and their 2–6-year-old children. Wave 2 was conducted three years later and included 409 Israeli Jewish mothers (57% response-rate) and their 5–9-year-old children. Results: Complications during pregnancy were moderately associated with children’s internalizing behavior problems in Wave 2. Postpartum depression was not associated with children’s behavioral problems in Wave 2. Current maternal depressive symptoms in Wave 1 were moderately associated with children’s behavioral problems in Wave 2. Conclusions: Our finding highlight the importance of recognizing and providing services to mothers who dealt with complications during pregnancy or depression during the child's first years.