Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates

Poster Title (Current Submission)

The Relative Influence of Postpartum Depression and Neonatal Fussiness on Childhood Psychopathology

Presenter Information

Allison M. Momany, University of IowaFollow

Mentor Name

Beth Troutman

Other Mentor Department

psychiatry

Abstract

Our previous research found neonatal fussiness correlates with emotional and

behavioral problems at ages 8 to 11. This research examines the relative influence of

neonatal fussiness and postpartum maternal depression, a known risk factor.

Background

Previous research indicates maternal ratings of fussiness in young children

correlate with ratings of emotional and behavioral problems during childhood (Grant,

2009; Stringaris, 2010). Research also shows that postpartum maternal depression is a

risk factor for childhood behavior problems and is correlated with maternal ratings of

fussiness (Cutrona and Troutman, 1986). Our previous research found that neonatal

fussiness at one month predicts later childhood psychopathology. The current study

examines the relative influence of postpartum depression and maternal ratings of

fussiness on later emotional and behavioral problems.

Methods

Study methods were approved by the University of Iowa Institutional Review

Board (IRB).

Subjects

111 infants, identified through birth records, were evaluated in their home at 3 and 4

weeks. Participants were contacted and recruited for participation in a follow-up study 8

to 11 years later (mean age = 9.3, SD = 1.0). 33 children (30%) participated in the

follow-up.

Neonatal negative emotionality.

The 6-item fussy-difficult scale of the Infant

Characteristics Questionnaire (ICQ) (Bates, Freeland, & Lounsbury, 1979) was used to

obtain maternal ratings of infant negative emotionality. A factor analysis of the ICQ

indicates the 6-item fussy-difficult scale is the most “clear-cut and valid factor” of the

ICQ with good internal consistency and has previously been used with 4-week-old

infants (Cronbach’s alpha = .79 to .87) (Bates, et al., 1979; Van Egeren, 2004).

Childhood psychopathology.

Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)

when the children were 8 to 11 years of age. The internal consistency of the problem

scales and DSM-oriented scales is supported by alpha coefficients ranging from .78 to

.97 and .72 to .91 respectively (Achenbach, 2001). Criterion-related validity is supported

by a significant difference between referred and non-referred children (Achenbach,

2001). Construct validity is supported by a significant association with other diagnostic

instruments (Achenbach, 2001).

Maternal depression.

Symptoms of maternal depression were assessed using the

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (Cox, Holden, & Sagovsky, 1987) at 3

weeks postpartum and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Beck & Steer, 1993) at 4

weeks postpartum. The EPDS and BDI have been widely used in studies of postpartum

depression. The EPDS and BDI were highly correlated (.59) so a postpartum

depression score was created by standardizing EPDS and BDI scores and adding them.

Results

Maternal postpartum depression and maternal ratings of neonatal fussiness are

significantly correlated with a value of .38 (p>.005). Correlations between neonatal

fussiness and childhood psychopathology with and without adjustment for postpartum

maternal depression are presented in Table 1.

Conclusions

Results of this research are consistent with previous research indicating infant

temperament is associated with childhood psychopathology. Although maternal

postpartum depression and maternal ratings of neonatal fussiness are significantly

correlated, neonatal fussiness is a significant predictor of later emotional and behavioral

problems after controlling for postpartum maternal depression.