Effect of maternal fearfulness, prenatal anxiety and postpartum depression on 4-month-old infant temperament in Chinese populations: a follow-up study

• Main Authors: Yi-HsienWu, 吳怡賢
• Other Authors: Huei-Chen Ko
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/21363028417769402796

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 行為醫學研究所 === 98 === Background: The relation between depression and anxiety symptoms during postpartum and infant difficult temperament has been well-documented in past studies. Recent studies highlight that maternal trait anxiety symptoms during pregnancy also contribute independently to infant difficult temperament. Furthermore, prenatal stress may have an indirect effect on infant difficult temperament, which may be mediated through depression/anxiety during postpartum. Aims: To examine whether the maternal fearfulness directly and/or indirectly contributes to different dimensions of infant’s temperament through prenatal anxiety and postpartum depression symptoms after controlling for possible confounders. Method: In an obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a public hospital in Taiwan, 512 pregnant women were recruited for study at four time points (36th week of pregnancy, 1st day, 8th week and 4th month in postpartum). The Symptom Checklist-90 revised was administered during pregnancy at 36 weeks of gestation and at 8 weeks postpartum. The EAS Temperament Survey for Adults and Infant Behavior Questionnaire was completed by 213 mothers (mean age = 29.1 years) at 4 months postpartum. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses showed that (1) maternal fearfulness was associated with infant activity level and was mediated through postpartum depression; (2) postpartum depression made an independent contribution to the distress to limitations scale; and that (3) Maternal fearfulness, prenatal anxiety and postpartum depression could not significantly predict infant distress to novelty. Discussion/Conclusion: Maternal fearfulness and depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum appear to contribute to infant temperament differentially.