Infant irritability: The impact of fetal alcohol exposure, maternal depressive symptoms, and low emotional support from the husband

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of fetal alcohol exposure, maternal depressive symptoms, and low emotional support from the husband on infant irritability in the first one and a half years of life. Four models describing the interplay of these factors were assessed: A direct effect model, an interaction or threshold model, a mediational model and a transactional model. Method: A sample of initially 458 women was assessed in a prospective 3-wave study across the first 17 months after childbirth. Fetal alcohol exposure was questioned retrospectively six weeks after birth. Infant irritability was reported by the mothers and fathers. Results: Support for the direct effect model and the interaction model could be found: Fetal alcohol exposure and low emotional support from the husband were associated with increased infant irritability at 5 months. The impact of fetal alcohol exposure was moderated by postnatal depressive symptoms. More irritability was reported if both risk factors, prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal depressive symptoms, were present. Infant irritability and maternal depressive symptoms were associated cross-sectionally. At the age of 17 months only a main effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on irritability could be found. Conclusion: Direct effects of fetal alcohol exposure, maternal depressive symptoms, and low emotional support from the husband on infant irritability as well as an interaction between fetal alcohol exposure and maternal depressive symptoms were revealed. The interaction can be understood in terms of a diathesisstress model. However, no longitudinal associations between maternal depressive symptoms and infant irritability could be found. Objetivos: La meta de este estudio fue investigar el impacto que el haber estado el feto expuesto al alcohol, los síntomas de la depresión maternal, y el bajo apoyo emocional de parte del esposo tienen sobre la irritabilidad del infante en el primer año y medio de vida. Se evaluaron cuatro modelos que describen el interjuego de estos factores: un modelo de efecto directo, un modelo de interacción o de entrada, un modelo de meditación y un modelo transaccional. Método: Un grupo muestra de 458 mujeres fue evaluado en un estudio de tres etapas futuras a través de los 17 meses después del nacimiento del niño. El haber estado el feto expuesto al alcohol fue investigado retrospectivamente seis semanas después del nacimiento. Las madres y los padres reportaron la irritabilidad del infante. Resultados: Se puede encontrar apoyo para el modelo directo y el modelo de interacción: se asociaron la exposición al alcohol del feto y el bajo apoyo emocional del esposo con el incremento de la irritabilidad del infante a los 5 meses. El impacto de la exposición del feto al alcohol fue moderada por los síntomas depresivos postnatales. Se reportó más irritabilidad si ambos factores de riesgo, la exposición del feto al alcohol y los síntomas de depresión maternal, se encontraban presentes. La irritabilidad del infante y los s...

Psychiatric conditions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure

“…Results from a recent Swiss study of a community sample of 323 participants examining the impact of PAE, maternal depressive symptoms, and emotional support from the father on infant irritability at 5 and 17 months of age, confirmed our previous findings and identified father emotional support of the mother as an additional predictive factor [Lemola et al, 2009]. Fetal alcohol exposure, low emotional support from the father, and maternal depressive symptoms were associated with increased infant irritability at 5 months.…”

Mental Health Outcomes Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Genetic and Environmental Factors

“…The results from a study of a community sample of 323 participants, examining the impact of PAE, maternal depressive symptoms, and emotional support from the father on infant irritability at 5 and 17 months of age, confirmed our previous findings and identified father emotional support as an additional predictive factor [29]. Fetal alcohol exposure, low emotional support from the father, and maternal depressive symptoms were associated with increased infant irritability at 5 months.…”

The Early Developmental Outcomes of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Review

“…Compared to studies focusing on global developmental outcomes, less research focused on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on specific domains such as motor (81, 84, 95), language (24, 74, 76, 77, 83), executive functions (88, 99, 102), and aspects of emotional and behavioral functioning (48, 49, 53, 56, 59, 60, 63, 75, 82, 89, 90, 92, 98, 100, 101, 103). A small body of research focused on specific functional outcomes of interest in executive function such as attention span (67), sustained attention (86), processing speed (52, 55, 109), and reaction time (54, 85, 104).…”

“…Studies investigating outcomes in this age group also suggest that infants with prenatal alcohol exposure may display a wide range of emotional and behavioral deficits identified using observational self-report rating scales (22) and experimentally induced paradigms such as the still face procedure (56, 60). These deficits include poor emotional regulation (51), emotional withdrawal (53), few social monitoring behaviors (60) increased irritability (48, 63), difficult temperament (49), passive behavior and lack of social engagement (22, 59).…”