Depression during pregnancy may predict child’s antisocial behavior

February 5, 2010 by Shawn Douglas
Filed under: News, Pregnancy

The depression of a woman during pregnancy may lead to antisocial behavior in her child later in life.

Researchers at Cardiff University, the University of Bristol and King’s College London have concluded that a mother’s antisocial history may predict her child’s antisocial behavior.

The research, published in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal Child Development, focused on 120 British youth and their mothers for over 16 years. The researchers interviewed the mothers of the children while pregnant. They followed up with interviews after the birth, and then later when the children were 4, 11, and 16 years of age.

Researchers found that women who suffered from depression while pregnant were four times as likely to have children who demonstrated antisocial behavior, compared to those women who weren’t depressed while pregnant. In addition, the team found that women who had a violent past were more prone to depression while pregnant, indicating a predictive pattern.

While analyzing the study results, they researchers looked for environmental and demographical links between depression during pregnancy and children’s antisocial behavior, but they couldn’t find any. Factors such as the mother’s education, IQ, ethnicity and social class seemed to have no noticeable impact on the link.

Dr. Dale F. Hay, professor of psychology at Cardiff University in Wales and lead researcher for the study, said, “Much attention has been given to the effects of postnatal depression on young infants, but depression during pregnancy may also affect the unborn child.”

Despite the research, Dr. Hay and his team weren’t certain of why a link existed, but they suggested that special support services should be opened up to those affected.

“Although it’s not yet clear exactly how depression in pregnancy might set infants on a pathway toward increased antisocial behavior, our findings suggest that women with a history of conduct problems who become depressed in pregnancy may be in special need of support,” said Dr. Hay.

It is estimated that nearly 10 percent of pregnant women have major depression and 20 percent see their depression symptoms worsen during pregnancy.

While the rates are comparable to similarly-aged non-pregnant woman, difficulties exist when managing the health of pregnant women with depression. Treatment using antidepressants is often not an option due to the risk of the developing fetus. Additionally, little research has been done on the treatment of that demographic.