The influence of anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy on birth size

Birit F P Broekman, Yiong Huak Chan, Yap Seng Chong, Kenneth Kwek, Sung Sharon Cohen, Charlotte Louise Haley, Helen Chen, Cornelia Chee, Anne Rifkin-Graboi, Peter D. Gluckman, Michael J. Meaney, Seang Mei Saw

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Mental health problems during pregnancy can influence fetal growth. However, studies examining the influence of maternal mental health across the normal range of birth outcomes are uncommon. This study examined the associations between symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy on birth size among term Asian infants. Methods One thousand forty-eight Asian pregnant women from a cohort Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes were recruited between 2009 to 2010 at two Singaporean maternity hospitals. At 26 weeks gestation, depressive symptoms were measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Health personnel recorded birthweight, birthlength, gestational age, and head circumference at birth. Results Nine hundred forty-six women who delivered term infants had complete data. For this sample, the mean birthweight was 3146.6 g [standard deviation (SD) 399.0], the mean birthlength was 48.9 cm (SD 2.0). After controlling for several potential confounders, there was a significant negative association between STAI and birthlength [β = -0.248, confidence interval (CI) [-0.382, -0.115], P < 0.001] and a small negative association between EPDS and birthlength (β = -0.169, CI [-0.305, -0.033], P = 0.02). No associations were found between scores on the EPDS, BDI-II, and STAI with birthweight or head circumference. Conclusions Our preliminary data suggest that among term infants, anxiety and depressive symptoms are not associated with birthweight, while anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with a shorter birthlength.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)116-126
Number of pages11
JournalPaediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • birthlength
  • birthweight
  • depression
  • pregnancy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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