Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Trajectories of maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over 13 years: the influence of stress, social support, and maternal temperament

Authors: Anni Skipstein, Harald Janson, Anne Kjeldsen, Wendy Nilsen, Kristin S Mathiesen

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health problems among women, with various negative impacts both for the women concerned and their families. Greater understanding of developmental trajectories of maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over the child rearing period would have significant benefits for public health, informing prevention and treatment approaches. The aim of the current study was to examine whether stressors related to child rearing and living conditions, social support, and maternal temperament, predicted mothers’ membership in groups with different trajectories of symptoms of depression and anxiety during 13 years of the child rearing phase.

Methods

The data were from a prospective, longitudinal study of 913 mothers in Norway followed from when their children were 18 months old (time 1) until they were 14.5 years (time 6) (the TOPP study). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to test whether child related stressors, stressors related to the living conditions, social support and maternal temperament at time 1 predicted membership in groups based on maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over the subsequent 13 years.

Results

Temperamental distress, followed by child related stressors, were the strongest predictors of membership in a group with high symptoms of depression and anxiety over time. Stressors related to living conditions, and social support from partner and friends/family were also significant predictors. No interaction effects among predictors were found.

Conclusions

This study indicates that factors present early in the child rearing phase may provide substantial prediction of the variance in maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over the following 13 years. Temperamental distress and child related stressors were the strongest predictors of membership in different depression and anxiety symptom trajectory groups.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Halbreich U, Kahn LS: Atypical depression, somatic depression and anxious depression in women: are they gender-preferred phenotypes?. J Affect Disord. 2007, 102: 245-258. 10.1016/j.jad.2006.09.023.CrossRefPubMed
2.
McLean CP, Asnaani A, Litz BT, Hofmann SG: Gender differences in anxiety disorders: prevalence, course of illness, comorbidity and burden of illness. J Psychiatr Res. 2011, 45: 1027-1035. 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.03.006.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
3.
Burke L: The impact of maternal depression on familial relationships. Int Rev Psychiatr. 2003, 15: 243-255. 10.1080/0954026031000136866.CrossRef
4.
Davila J, Stroud CB, Starr LR: Depression in Couples and Families. Handbook of Depression. Edited by: Gotlib IH, Hammen CL. 2009, New York: The Guilford Press, 467-491. 2
5.
Gotlib IH, Hammen CL: Introduction. Handbook of Depression. Edited by: Gotlib IH, Hammen CL. 2009, New York: The Guilford Press, 1-2. 2
6.
McLennan JD, Kotelchuck M, Cho H: Prevalence, persistence, and correlates of depressive symptoms in a national sample of mothers of toddlers. J Am Acad Child Psychiatr. 2001, 40: 1316-1323. 10.1097/00004583-200111000-00012.CrossRef
7.
Wickramaratne P, Gameroff MJ, Pilowsky DJ, Hughes CW, Garber J, Malloy E, et al: Children of depressed mothers 1 year after remission of maternal depression: findings from the STAR*D-Child study. Am J Psychiatry. 2011, 168: 593-602. 10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10010032.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Horwitz SM, Briggs-Gowan MJ, Storfer-Isser A, Carter AS: Prevalence, correlates, and persistence of maternal depression. J Women's Health. 2007, 16: 678-691. 10.1089/jwh.2006.0185.CrossRef
9.
Mayberry LJ, Horowitz JA, Declercq E: Depression symptom prevalence and demographic risk factors among U.S. Women during the first 2 years postpartum. JOGNN. 2007, 36: 542-549. 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2007.00191.x.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Hammen CL: Children of Depressed Parents. Handbook of Depression. Edited by: Gotlib IH, Hammen CL. 2009, New York: The Guilford Press, 275-297. 2
11.
Monroe SM, Slavich GM, Georgiades K: The Social Environment and Life Stress in Depression. Handbook of Depression. Edited by: Gotlib IH, Hammen CL. 2009, New York: The Guilford Press, 340-360. 2
12.
Tennant C: Life events, stress and depression: a review of recent findings. Aust N Z J Psychiatr. 2002, 36: 173-182. 10.1046/j.1440-1614.2002.01007.x.CrossRef
13.
Brown TA, Rosellini AJ: The direct and interactive effects of neuroticism and life stress on the severity and longitudinal course of depressive symptoms. J Abnorm Psychol. 2011, 4: 844-856.CrossRef
14.
McGonagle KA, Kessler RC: Chronic stress, acute stress, and depressive symptoms. Am J Community Psychol. 1990, 18: 681-706. 10.1007/BF00931237.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Riso LP, Miyatake RK, Thase ME: The search for determinants of chronic depression: a review of six factors. J Affect Disord. 2002, 70: 103-116. 10.1016/S0165-0327(01)00376-7.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Manuel JI, Martinson ML, Bledsoe-Mansori SE, Bellamy JL: The influence of stress and social support on depressive symptoms in mothers with young children. Soc Sci Med. 2012, 75: 2013-2020. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.07.034.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Nolen-Hoeksema S: Gender differences in depression. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2001, 10: 173-176. 10.1111/1467-8721.00142.CrossRef
18.
Mathiesen KS, Tambs K, Dalgard OS: The influence of social class, strain and social support on symptoms of anxiety and depression in mothers of toddlers. Soc Psychiatr Psychiatr Epidemiol. 1999, 34: 61-72. 10.1007/s001270050113.CrossRef
19.
Naerde A, Tambs K, Mathiesen KS, Dalgard OS, Samuelsen SO: Symptoms of anxiety and depression among mothers of pre-school children: effect of chronic strain related to children and child care-taking. J Affect Disord. 2000, 58: 181-199. 10.1016/S0165-0327(99)00119-6.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Naerde A, Tambs K, Mathiesen KS: Child related strain and maternal mental health: a longitudinal study. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2002, 105: 301-309. 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.1010.x.CrossRefPubMed
21.
22.
Lorant V, Croux C, Weich S, Deliege D, Mackenbach J, Ansseau M: Depression and socio-economic risk factors: 7-year longitudinal population study. Br J Psychiatry. 2007, 190: 293-298. 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.020040.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Mistry R, Stevens GD, Sareen H, De Vogli R, Halfon N: Parenting-related stressors and self-reported mental health of mothers with young children. Am J Public Health. 2007, 97: 1261-1268. 10.2105/AJPH.2006.088161.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
Skipstein A, Janson H, Stoolmiller M, Mathiesen KS: Trajectories of maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression. A 13-year longitudinal study of a population-based sample. BMC Publ Health. 2010, 10: 589-10.1186/1471-2458-10-589.CrossRef
25.
Plaisier I, de Bruijn JGM, Smit JH, de Graaf R, ten Have M, Beekman ATF, et al: Work and family roles and the association with depressive and anxiety disorders: differences between men and women. J Affect Disord. 2008, 105: 63-72. 10.1016/j.jad.2007.04.010.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Dalgard OS, Bjork S, Tambs K: Social support, negative life events and mental health. Br J Psychiatry. 1995, 166: 29-34. 10.1192/bjp.166.1.29.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Olstad R, Sexton H, Sogaard AJ: The Finnmark Study. A prospective population study of the social support bugger hypothesis, specific stressors and mental distress. Soc Psychiatr Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2001, 36: 582-589. 10.1007/s127-001-8197-0.CrossRef
28.
Rosand GM, Slinning K, Eberhard-Gran M, Roysamb E, Tambs K: Partner relationship satisfaction and maternal emotional distress in early pregnancy. BMC Publ Health. 2011, 11: 161-10.1186/1471-2458-11-161.CrossRef
29.
Lakey B, Orehek E: Relational regulation theory: a new approach to explain the link between perceived social support and mental health. Psychol Rev. 2011, 3: 482-495.CrossRef
30.
Klein DN, Durbin CE, Shankman SA: Personality and Mood Disorders. Handbook of Depression. Edited by: Gotlib IH, Hammen CL. 2009, New York: The Guilford Press, 93-112. 2
31.
Sanson A, Hemphill SA, Smart D: Connections between temperament and social development: a review. Soc Dev. 2004, 13: 142-170. 10.1046/j.1467-9507.2004.00261.x.CrossRef
32.
Clark LA, Watson D: Temperament. An Organizing Paradigm for Trait Psychology. Handbook of Personality. Theory and Research. Edited by: John OP, Robins RW, Pervin LA. 2008, New York: The Guilford Press, 265-286. 3
33.
Hammen C: Stress and depression. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2005, 1: 293-319. 10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.143938.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Gustavson K, von Soest T, Karevold E, Roysamb E: Attrition and generalizability in longitudinal studies: findings from a 15-year population-based study and a Monte Carlo simulation study. BMC Publ Health. 2012, 12: 918-10.1186/1471-2458-12-918.CrossRef
35.
Buss AH, Plomin R: Temperament: Early developing personality traits. 1984, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
36.
Naerde A, Roysamb E, Tambs K: Temperament in adults–reliability, stability, and factor structure of the EAS Temperament Survey. J Pers Assess. 2004, 82: 71-79. 10.1207/s15327752jpa8201_12.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Hesbacher PT, Rickels K, Morris RJ, Newman H, Rosenfeld H: Psychiatric illness in family practice. J Clin Psych. 1980, 41: 6-10.
38.
Müller JM, Postert C, Beyer T, Furniss T, Achtergarde S: Comparison of eleven short versions of the symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R) for use in the assessment of general psychopathology. J Psychopathol Behav. 2010, 32: 246-254. 10.1007/s10862-009-9141-5.CrossRef
39.
Field A: Discovering statistics using SPSS. 2005, London: SAGE Publications, 2
40.
Lincoln KD, Chatters LM, Taylor RJ, Jackson JS: Profiles of depressive symptoms among African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. Soc Sci Med. 2007, 65: 200-213. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.02.038.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
41.
42.
Miller B, Townsend A, Carpenter E, Montgomery RVJ, Stull D, Young RF: Social support and caregiver distress: a replication analysis. J Gerontol Ser B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2001, 56B: 249-256.CrossRef
43.
Cropley M, Steptoe A: Social support, life events and physical symptoms: a prospective study of chronic and recent life stress in men and women. Psychol Health Med. 2005, 10: 317-325. 10.1080/1354850500093365.CrossRef
44.
Lepore SJ, Evans GW, Schneider ML: Dynamic role of social support in the link between chronic stress and psychological distress. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991, 61: 899-909.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Baistow K: "On being a mother". Motherhood and mental health. The female body in mind. The interface between the female body and mental health. Edited by: Nasser M, Baistow K, Treasure J. 2007, London: Routledge, 104-118.
46.
Noor NM: Work-family conflict, locus of control, and women's well-being: tests of alternative pathways. J Soc Psychol. 2002, 142: 645-662. 10.1080/00224540209603924.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Oomens S, Geurts S, Scheepers P: Combining work and family in the Netherlands: blessing or burden for one's mental health?. Int J Law Psychiatr. 2007, 30: 369-384. 10.1016/j.ijlp.2007.06.009.CrossRef
48.
Sanson A, Prior M, Kyrios M: Contamination of measures in temperament research. Merrill Palmer Quart. 1990, 36: 179-192.
49.
Lemery KS, Essex MJ, Smider NA: Revealing the relation between temperament and behavior problem symptoms by eliminating measurement confounding: expert ratings and factor analyses. Child Dev. 2002, 73: 867-882. 10.1111/1467-8624.00444.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Rothbart MK, Bates JE: Temperament. Handbook of Child Psychology, Volume 3, Social, Emotional, and Personality Development. Edited by: Eisenberg N. 2006, Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 99-166. 6
51.
Sandanger I, Moum T, Ingebrigtsen G, Dalgard OS, Sorensen T, Bruusgaard D: Concordance between symptom screening and diagnostic procedure: the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview I. Soc Psychiatr Psychiatr Epidemiol. 1998, 33: 345-354. 10.1007/s001270050064.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Trajectories of maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety over 13 years: the influence of stress, social support, and maternal temperament
Authors
Anni Skipstein
Harald Janson
Anne Kjeldsen
Wendy Nilsen
Kristin S Mathiesen
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-1120

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

BMC Public Health 1/2012 Go to the issue

Study protocol

The Diabetes Pearl: Diabetes biobanking in The Netherlands

Study protocol

Scoping the impact of the national child measurement programme feedback on the child obesity pathway: study protocol

Research article

A review of population-based prevalence studies of physical activity in adults in the Asia-Pacific region

Research article

Risk of death in crashes on Ontario’s highways

Research article

The less healthy urban population: income-related health inequality in China

Research article

Cervical cancer screening by visual inspection in Côte d'Ivoire, operational and clinical aspects according to HIV status