Intergenerational transmission of maltreatment and psychopathology: the role of antenatal depression

Abstract

BackgroundMaternal experience of childhood maltreatment and maternal antenatal depression are both associated with offspring childhood maltreatment and offspring adjustment problems. We have investigated the relative impact of maternal childhood maltreatment and exposure to depression in utero on offspring maltreatment and psychopathology.MethodThe sample included 125 families from the South London Child Development Study. A prospective longitudinal design was used. Data on maternal childhood maltreatment, maternal antenatal depression (36 weeks of pregnancy), offspring childhood maltreatment (age 11 years) and offspring adolescent antisocial behaviour and depression (ages 11 and 16 years) were obtained from parents and offspring through clinical interview.ResultsMothers who experienced childhood maltreatment were significantly more likely to be depressed during pregnancy [odds ratio (OR) 10.00]. Offspring of mothers who experienced only childhood maltreatment or only antenatal depression were no more at risk of being maltreated or having psychopathology; however, offspring of mothers who experienced both maternal childhood maltreatment and antenatal depression were exposed to significantly greater levels of childhood maltreatment and exhibited significantly higher levels of adolescent antisocial behaviour compared with offspring not so exposed. Furthermore, maternal childhood maltreatment accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in offspring childhood maltreatment in only those offspring exposed to depression in utero.ConclusionsMaternal childhood maltreatment and maternal antenatal depression are highly associated. The co-occurrence of both insults significantly increases the risk of offspring adversity. The antenatal period is an optimum period to identify vulnerable women and to provide interventions.

Depression during pregnancy: molecular regulations of mothers’ and children's behaviour

“…This is relevant in the context of the evidence showing that antenatal depression [45] is also associated with an increased risk of the offspring being exposed to subsequent stressors in childhood and adolescence [5,6,31], because children's difficult behaviour may elicit harsh responses and maltreatment from others [32]. Moreover, studies examining adolescent offspring outcomes have found an association between exposure to antenatal depression or anxiety, and depression and antisocial behaviour in the offspring [8,9,33].…”

“…Moreover, research conducted by us and others has shown that antenatal depression (and stress) have longterm consequences on the offspring's behaviour in later childhood and adolescence, including increased vulnerability to subsequent stressors, increased psychopathology and increased reactivity of the biological systems involved in the stress response [5][6][7][8][9]. Therefore antenatal depression is a much more clinically relevant problem than ordinarily perceived by the scientific community and the public at large.…”

Oxytocin pathways in the intergenerational transmission of maternal early life stress

“…However, it becomes increasingly apparent that these adverse long-term consequences are not restricted to the exposed individual alone but might be transmitted to the next generation (Collishaw et al, 2007), who also are at increased risk for psychiatric and somatic disorders (Roberts et al, 2014; Roberts et al, 2013) – a phenomenon referred to as intergenerational transmission (Bowers and Yehuda, 2016). Most studies discuss postnatal transmission pathways, such as non-optimal parenting behavior and psychopathology in ELS-exposed parents (Miranda et al, 2013) and offspring victimization (Plant et al, 2013). It is important to acknowledge however, that postnatal behavioral pathways, like postpartum depression and/or altered maternal behavior, are already primed during pregnancy (Feldman et al, 2007; Skrundz et al, 2011).…”

JGZ-richtlijn Psychosociale problemen

“…Het is aannemelijk dat adolescenten met een moeder die kindermishandeling heeft meegemaakt én een depressie tijdens de zwangerschap heeft gehad, vaker antisociaal gedraag vertonen A2 (Myhre et al, 2014) A2 (Plant et al, 2013) Het is aannemelijk dat veel zelfvertrouwen en gezond sociaal functioneren beschermt tegen het ontwikkelen van psychopathologie Er is een aanwijzing dat veel zelfvertrouwen beschermt tegen delinquent gedrag A2 (Pargas et al, 2010) C (Kabiru et al, 2014) 3 Er is een aanwijzing dat een positieve etnische identiteit, en hoger gevoel van eigenwaarde zijn een beschermende factor voor depressie en angst bij allochtone jongeren C (Garcia Reid et al, 2013) Beschermende factoren microniveau: ouder…”

“…Vrouwen die het slachtoffer zijn geweest in hun jeugd van kindermishandeling, in combinatie met een depressie tijdens de zwangerschap, hebben een verhoogd risico op mishandeling en verwaarlozing van hun kinderen. Hun kinderen hebben eveneens een verhoogd risico op het ontwikkelen van psychopathologie (Plant, Barker, Waters, Pawlby, & Pariante, 2013). …”