Higher chance of depression in pre-teens who experienced multiple risk factors in pregnancy and early life

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-09-30 11:34

New Zealand

Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

Children exposed to multiple challenges during pregnancy and their first year of life are more likely to experience depression by age 12, according to a new study from the Growing Up in NZ project. Researchers surveyed over 4500 children about depression symptoms, and compared results with a 'cumulative risk score' which tracked issues during pregnancy and infanthood. Factors influencing the risk of depression in later childhood included early maternal mental health, conflict between parents, and material hardship, while exposure to more of these early risk factors was linked with higher chances of childhood depression. The authors say their cumulative risk score could help identify vulnerable children and guide efforts to support them.

Expert Reaction

These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.

Dr Karen Waldie, Professor in Developmental Neuropsychology at the University of Auckland

Depression in young people has increased markedly over the last decade and often persists into adulthood.

"In a recent study, we found that 13% of 12-year-olds enrolled in the Growing Up In NZ study were exposed to 4 or more risk factors during pregnancy and the first year postpartum, also known as the perinatal period, that increased their risk of depression symptoms. Examples of factors that increased this risk include smoking during pregnancy, parental mental health concerns and material hardship.

"Mental health interventions should be directed towards addressing such multiple risks, considering that the perinatal period is a pivotal time marked by substantial biological, psychological, and environmental changes that significantly impact child development.

Last updated: 30 Sep 2024 12:37pm

Contact information

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.

Declared conflicts of interest Professor Waldie is an author of the study.

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Research Elsevier, Web page

Journal/
conference: Journal of Affective Disorders

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Auckland, Starship Children's Hospital

Funder: The study has been designed and conducted by the Growing Up in New Zealand study team, led by the University of Auckland. Professor Karen Waldie was funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden (Grant number 3718586). The University of Auckland. Growing Up in New Zealand has been funded by the New Zealand Ministries of Social Development, Health, Education, Justice and Pacific Island Affairs; the former Ministry of Science Innovation and the former Department of Labour (now both part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment); the former Ministry of Women's Affairs (now the Ministry for Women); the Department of Corrections; the Families Commission (now known as the Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit); Te Puni Kokiri; New Zealand Police; Sport New Zealand; the Housing New Zealand Corporation; and the former Mental Health Commission, The University of Auckland and Auckland UniServices Limited. Other support for the study has been provided by the NZ Health Research Council, Statistics New Zealand, the Office of the Children's Commissioner and the Office of Ethnic Affairs.

Media Contact/s

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.