The presence
of maternal psychological distress resulted associated with less optimal mother — child emotional exchanges, while the hypothesis regarding couple satisfaction and social support influence were not confirmed.
Maternal psychological distress combined with exposure to air pollution during pregnancy have an adverse impact on the child's behavioral development, according to researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at the Mailman School of Public Health.
Maternal psychological distress appears to be enduring (Horwitz et al., 2007) and, given that the early postpartum months are especially important for the establishment of a satisfactory dyadic relationship and for infant development (Hay and Kumar, 1995; Murray et al., 2015), it may negatively affect child outcomes (Goodman et al., 2011), mother — infant interactions (Singer et al., 2003), conjugal and family relationships (Whisman, 2001; Sutter - Dallay, 2006).
Extensive data were collected on mothers» demographic characteristics, health history, including maternal history of asthma, prenatal and
postnatal maternal psychological distress (anxiety, depression or stress), maternal social support (specifically the extent of partner / spouse support) and children's birth and health outcomes including breastfeeding status (at 3 months) from the APrON surveys completed at prenatal or postnatal clinic visits or sent in by mail.
An increase in dyadic EA was expected and we hypothesized that more optimal adult — child interactions would be associated with a lower degree
of maternal psychological distress, and with a higher level of couple satisfaction and perceived social support.
«Air pollution exposure is ubiquitous and often co-occurs with socioeconomic disadvantage and
maternal psychological distress,» notes Dr. Perera.
Maternal psychological distress: Adult sons» and daughters» mental health and educational attainment
Moreover,
maternal psychological distress, including prenatal and postnatal depression, anxiety and stress, may increase risk, while social support from partners may reduce risk for childhood AD.
To test for associations between quality of mother — child interactions and
maternal psychological distress, the Spearman's Rho coefficient was applied to the SCL -90-R reliable scores (obsessive - compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, social phobia, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, somatization, depression, anxiety, GSI, PST, and PSDI) and to the scores obtained through the EAS during T1, T3, and T4.
Without appropriate social support during the transition to motherhood, this transition can be difficult and distressing, adding to
maternal psychological distress and affecting the mother's ability to care for her infant [49].
Maternal psychological distress and child decision - making.