Maternal depressive symptoms in and beyond the perinatal period: Associations with infant and preschooler sleep

Mikaela L Carter; Sarah-Jane Paine; Bronwyn M Sweeney; Joanne E Taylor; T Leigh Signal

doi:10.1093/sleep/zsae255

Maternal depressive symptoms in and beyond the perinatal period: Associations with infant and preschooler sleep

Sleep. 2024 Oct 29:zsae255. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsae255. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mikaela L Carter¹, Sarah-Jane Paine², Bronwyn M Sweeney¹, Joanne E Taylor³, T Leigh Signal¹

Affiliations

¹ Sleep Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, NZ.
² University of Auckland, NZ.
³ School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ.

PMID: 39470450
DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae255

Abstract

Study objectives: (1) To describe sleep in infancy and early childhood among children born to mothers with and without clinically significant depressive symptoms, and (2) to explore the relationships between maternal depressive symptoms and sleep patterns and problems during infancy and early childhood.

Methods: Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Moe Kura: Mother and Child, Sleep and Wellbeing in Aotearoa/New Zealand study. Data was collected in pregnancy (T1), 12 weeks postpartum (T2), and 3 years post-birth (T3). Participants were 262 Māori and 594 non-Māori mother-child dyads. Chi-square and Independent T-tests measured bivariate associations between maternal mood (T1, T2, T3) and child sleep characteristics (T2, T3). Binary logistic regression models examined longitudinal and concurrent associations between maternal depressive symptoms and infant and preschooler sleep. Adjusted models accounted for key socio-demographic variables, as well as infant sleep variables in preschooler models.

Results: Bivariate associations were found between prior and concurrent depressive symptomology and many of the infant and preschooler sleep outcomes. In adjusted models, prenatal depressive symptoms remained independently associated with shorter-than-recommended sleep durations in preschoolers. In these models, concurrent depression was also associated with night waking, night LSRSP, and perceived sleep problems at 12 weeks postpartum, and CSHQ-determined and perceived sleep problems at 3 years post birth.

Conclusions: Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations were found between maternal depressive symptoms and child sleep. Sleep appears to be one pathway by which maternal depression confers risk for suboptimal child health outcomes. Findings support the need for earlier and better maternal mental health services.

Keywords: child sleep; depression; health inequities; infants; maternal mental health; perinatal; pregnancy; preschoolers; sleep duration; sleep problems.