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

Dias, Cláudia Castro; Figueiredo, Bárbara

doi:10.1111/jsr.13363

Cited by 21 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the relationship between infant sleep and maternal mental health is bi-directional [ 11 ]. Women with antenatal mental health challenges are at higher risk of reporting difficulties with infant sleep [ 11 , 33 ], reflected in increased rates of perceived infant sleep problems [ 11 , 12 ]. Perceptions and reporting of sleep problems in young children are negatively associated with parental confidence relating to children’s sleep [ 10 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is, however, a wide variation in normal infant sleep, settling and cry patterns in the first 12 months [ 4 ], and not all parents are bothered by the same reported infant behaviours. Perceptions of problematic infant sleep are shaped by parents’ own confidence with managing infant sleep [ 10 ], antenatal and postnatal maternal mental health [ 11 , 12 ] and maternal sleep quality and daytime functioning [ 2 , 8 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Breastfeeding and Maternal Perceptions of Infant Sleep, Settle and Cry Patterns in the First 9 Months

Perrella

Dix-Matthews²,

Williams³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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This study evaluated relationships between maternal perceptions of infant sleep, settling and crying patterns and breastfeeding. A prospective observational study of 91 mothers of healthy, term infants was conducted with follow ups over 9 months after discharge from a Western Australian maternity hospital. Feeding information, sleep, settle and cry behaviours, maternal bother at infant behaviours and confidence were measured using the Sleep and Settle Questionnaire. Breastfeeding confidence was measured using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale—Short Form. Questionnaires were administered at 2 and 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 9 months. Linear mixed models were used to assess associations between maternal bother, feeding method and infant characteristics. The feeding method was not associated with maternal bother, and cessation of breastfeeding did not result in a change in bother scores (p = 0.34). Duration of infant crying in the day, evening and night, frequency of night waking and duration of settling to sleep in the day were associated with increased bother scores. Higher breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal confidence were associated with lower bother scores (both p < 0.01). Maternal bother is associated with infant behaviours that require parental input, but not breastfeeding status. Resources that address parental expectations regarding infant sleep while providing strategies to support maternal wellbeing and breastfeeding are needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Breastfeeding and Maternal Perceptions of Infant Sleep, Settle and Cry Patterns in the First 9 Months

Perrella

Dix-Matthews²,

Williams³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…More eating problems have also been reported in relation to elevated maternal anxiety and depression scores (Coulthard and Harris, 2003;Martini et al, 2017). Maternal depressive symptoms in the prenatal period may further interact with the level of postnatal symptomatology in their effect on RPs in infancy and early childhood (Toffol et al, 2019;Schultz et al, 2020;Dias and Figueiredo, 2021). There is further evidence for divergent associations of RPs with anxious and depressive symptoms depending on the onset of maternal symptomatology.…”

Section: Infant Regulatory Problems and Maternal Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 96%

Born Under COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions: Infant Regulatory Problems and Maternal Mental Health at 7 Months Postpartum

et al. 2022

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BackgroundThe SARS-COVID-19 pandemic and its associated disease control restrictions have in multiple ways affected families with young children, who may be especially vulnerable to mental health problems. Studies report an increase in perinatal parental distress as well as symptoms of anxiety or depression in children during the pandemic. Currently, little is known about the impact of the pandemic on infants and their development. Infant regulatory problems (RPs) have been identified as early indicators of child socio-emotional development, strongly associated with maternal mental health and the early parent–infant interaction. Our study investigates whether early parenthood under COVID-19 is associated with more maternal depressive symptoms and with a perception of their infants as having more RPs regarding crying/fussing, sleeping, or eating, compared to mothers assessed before the pandemic.MethodsAs part of a longitudinal study, 65 women who had given birth during the first nationwide disease control restrictions in Northern Germany, were surveyed at 7 months postpartum and compared to 97 women assessed before the pandemic. RPs and on maternal depressive symptoms were assessed by maternal report. Number of previous children, infant negative emotionality, and perceived social support were assessed as control variables.ResultsCompared to the control cohort, infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic and those of mothers with higher depressive symptoms were perceived as having more sleeping and crying, but not more eating problems. Regression-based analyses showed no additional moderating effect of parenthood under COVID-19 on the association of depressive symptoms with RPs. Infant negative emotionality was positively, and number of previous children was negatively associated with RPs.LimitationsDue to the small sample size and cross-sectional assessment, the possibility for more complex multivariate analysis was limited. The use of parent-report questionnaires to assess infant RPs can support but not replace clinical diagnosis.ConclusionsThe pandemic conditions affecting everyday life may have a long-term influence on impaired infant self- and maternal co-regulation and on maternal mental health. This should be addressed in peripartum and pediatric care. Qualitative and longitudinal studies focusing on long-term parental and infant outcomes under ongoing pandemic conditions are encouraged.

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“…Potential confounders were selected to account for sociodemographic differences or because of potential associations with infant screen time or infant sleep. Specifically, exclusive breast feeding (vs partial or exclusive formula feeding) has been associated with more night-time awakenings at 3 and 6 months of age, 32 more time spent in formal or informal childcare during the day has been inversely associated with night-time sleep duration among infants 33 and delayed bedtime among infants and toddlers, 34 maternal screen time is highly correlated with infant screen time, 35 maternal smoking has been related to night-time awakenings among infants, 36 maternal depression has been related to unsettled sleep among infants, 37 and a greater level of disorder and chaos at home has been related to sleep problems and fragmented sleep among young children. 38 We included a category of 'missing' for each covariate to account for missing data.…”

Section: Covariatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between daily screen time and sleep in a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of US infants: a prospective cohort study

et al. 2021

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ObjectiveTo determine the associations between screen media use and sleep throughout infancy (3–12 months).DesignProspective Nurture birth cohort.SettingNorth Carolina, USA, 2013–2015.ParticipantsWomen enrolled in their second to third trimester, completed a phone interview after birth, and completed home visits at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post partum.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWomen reported the usual hours their infants slept during the day and night and their infants’ usual use of five screen media activities at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post partum. Adjusted mixed-effects regression analyses modelled the associations between infant screen time and sleep outcomes while disaggregating the between-infant and within-infant effects.ResultsAmong 558 mother–infant dyads, 374 (67.0%) infants were black and 304 (54.5%) households earned <$20 000 per year. Half (254, 50.2%) of the infants engaged with screens at 3 months of age, while 326 (72.9%) engaged at 12 months. The median value of the average daily screen time over the study period was 50 (IQR: 10–141) min. Infant screen time was inversely associated with night-time sleep duration only when considering between-infant effects (adjusted beta: −2.9; 95% CI −5.9 to 0.0; p=0.054 for log-transformed screen time). Effects were stronger for television+DVD viewing specifically (adjusted beta: −5.2; 95% CI −9.1 to −1.4; p<0.01 for log-transformed television+DVD time). For example, an infant who averaged 1 hour of television+DVD viewing over the study period slept, on average, 9.20 (95% CI 9.02 to 9.37) hours per night by 12 months compared with 9.60 (95% CI 9.41 to 9.80) hours per night for an infant with no screen time over the study period. There were no significant within-infant effects between screen time and night-time sleep, and screen time was not associated with daytime sleep or night-time awakenings.ConclusionsScreen time during infancy was inversely associated with night-time sleep duration; however, causal associations remain uncertain.Trial registration numberNCT01788644.

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

Cited by 21 publications

References 45 publications

Breastfeeding and Maternal Perceptions of Infant Sleep, Settle and Cry Patterns in the First 9 Months

Breastfeeding and Maternal Perceptions of Infant Sleep, Settle and Cry Patterns in the First 9 Months

Born Under COVID-19 Pandemic Conditions: Infant Regulatory Problems and Maternal Mental Health at 7 Months Postpartum

Associations between daily screen time and sleep in a racially and socioeconomically diverse sample of US infants: a prospective cohort study

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