Maternal posttraumatic stress disorder and infant developmental outcomes in a South African birth cohort study

Psychol Trauma. 2017 May;9(3):292-300. doi: 10.1037/tra0000234.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and infant development in a South African birth cohort.

Method: Data from the Drakenstein Child Health Study were analyzed. Maternal psychopathology was assessed using self-report and clinician-administered interviews; and 6-month infant development using the Bayley III Scales of Infant Development. Linear regression analyses explored associations between predictor and outcome variables.

Results: Data from 111 mothers and 112 infants (1 set of twins) were included. Most mothers (72%) reported lifetime trauma exposure; the lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 20%. Maternal PTSD was significantly associated with poorer fine motor and adaptive behavior - motor development; the latter remaining significant when adjusted for site, alcohol dependence, and infant head-circumference-for-age z score at birth.

Conclusion: Maternal PTSD may be associated with impaired infant neurodevelopment. Further work in low- and middle-income populations may improve early childhood development in this context. (PsycINFO Database Record

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child Development / physiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mother-Child Relations*
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • South Africa
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Young Adult