Cited by 160Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentInfant Development and Preterm Care

Parental depression and child outcomes–is marital conflict the missing link?

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Hanington, L., Heron, J., Stein, A., Ramchandani, P.·2012·Child: Care, Health and Development

Abstract

Background Both maternal and paternal depression during the perinatal period are associated with adverse effects on child outcomes. Attention has started to focus on the mechanisms mediating these relationships. Marital conflict may play a role in this context. Methods In a large cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n= 14 541 pregnancies), we aimed to (i) investigate the relative influences of parental postnatal depression and marital conflict on child outcomes and to attempt to determine the pathway(s) of risk; (ii) investigate the impact of two types of antenatal stress (parental depression and marital conflict) on child outcomes; and (iii) determine the relative contributions of antenatal and postnatal risk. Parents completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a marital conflict scale during the second trimester and at 8 months postnatally. Child outcomes were assessed at 42 months using the Rutter revised pre‐school scales. Results Marital conflict partially mediated the relationship between postnatal depression in both mothers and fathers and child outcomes, and acted as an independent risk for adverse outcomes. Parental depression (maternal and paternal) and marital conflict in the antenatal period were both associated with adverse effects which persisted even when postnatal stresses were taken into account. Conclusions These findings, if replicated, suggest that screening and intervention programmes targeted at parental depression and marital problems should be considered antenatally, as well as postnatally.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01270.x

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  1. Elander J Rutter M Use and development of the Rutter parents' and teachers' scales International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 1996 6 63 78

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Authors
Hanington, L., Heron, J., Stein, A., & Ramchandani, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
Corresponding author
Hanington, L.
Venue
Child: Care, Health and Development
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011-07-19
Volume
38
Issue
4
Pages
520-529
ISSN
  • 0305-1862 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2214
OpenAlex
W1606326516
Cited by
160
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
FWCI
10.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Child Care Health and Development (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion)
  • Apollo
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust (090139, 092731, 078434/Z/05/Z, 078434)
  • University of Bristol
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
Keywords
parental depression, postpartum depression, marital conflict, child outcomes, prenatal stress, mediation, maternal depression, paternal depression, child behavior problems, prenatal screening, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
MeSH terms
Child Behavior Disorders, Child, Preschool, Depressive Disorder, England, Family Health, Fathers, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Risk Factors, Child of Impaired Parents, Depression, Postpartum, Family Conflict

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