Perinatal maternal depression, antidepressant use and infant sleep outcomes: Exploring cross-lagged associations in a pregnancy cohort study

Abstract

Maternal depression and antidepressant use were not found to be significant factors in infant sleep problems and, likewise, infant sleep problems were not associated with maternal depression. However, postpartum maternal cognitions around six months postpartum regarding limit-setting at night may predict increases in later nocturnal infant signaling.

Unidirectional and bidirectional links between maternal depression symptoms and infant sleep problems

“…The bidirectional models between maternal depression symptoms and infant Bedtime Problems, Positive Sleep Habits, Daytime Sleepiness and Total Sleep Problems presented a poor fit, which may suggest that the links between maternal depression symptoms and these specific sleep problems are mainly unidirectional during the first 6 months. Considering that the Bedtime Problems subscale assesses infant frequent night awakening, these results are congruent with previous findings that found no bidirectional links between maternal postpartum depression symptoms and infant night awakenings (Galbally et al., 2018). However, a previous study with older children revealed reciprocal links between maternal mood and children’s sleep problems, although not considering the effects of maternal prenatal depression symptoms (Bell & Belsky, 2008).…”

“…According to the transactional model (Sadeh, Tikotzky, & Scher, 2010; Sameroff, 1993), bidirectional links may also occur – maternal depression may influence and concurrently be influenced by infant sleep problems. Although the effects of maternal depression symptoms on infant sleep problems (Bat‐Pitault et al., 2017; Martini et al., 2017) and the effects of infant sleep problems on maternal depression symptoms (Wake et al., 2006) have been separately examined in the literature, the bidirectional links were more recently investigated (Galbally, Watson, Teti, & Lewis, 2018; Ystrom, Hysing, et al, 2017).…”

“…Mothers of infants with sleep problems are at increased risk of presenting sleep difficulties (Kouros and El‐Sheikh, 2017), which in turn may lead to postpartum depression (Lawson, Murphy, Sloan, Uleryk, & Dalfen, 2015). To our knowledge, only one study examined both (a) maternal prenatal and postnatal depression symptoms and (b) the bidirectional links between maternal depression symptoms and infant night awakenings during the first year (Galbally et al., 2018). In that study, maternal prenatal and postnatal depression symptoms were not predictors of infant night awakenings, and infant night awakenings were not predictors of maternal postnatal depression symptoms.…”

Parental use of ‘cry it out’ in infants: no adverse effects on attachment and behavioural development at 18 months

“…On the contrary, trying to respond to a crying infant immediately every time might put mothers under a lot of stress, increase fatigue (Barr et al, 2014; Long et al, 2018) and may increase depression (Petzoldt, 2018). Moreover, mothers' own expectations of responding to their crying infants immediately might even increase later infant night waking (Galbally, Watson, Teti, & Lewis, 2018). For infants' healthy development, the importance of maternal self‐care and good maternal mental health is invaluable (Kurth, Kennedy, Spichiger, Hosli, & Stutz, 2011).…”

Maternal emotional distress and infant sleep: A longitudinal study from pregnancy through 18 months.

“…However, not all studies on sleep in infants of depressed pregnant women demonstrate significant changes. In a study comparing infants born to depressed and control women, maternal prenatal depression and antidepressant use were not significant predictors of infant sleep problems, as reported by the mother, in 6- and 12-month-old infants (Galbally et al, 2018).…”