| Title: |
Prenatal maternal depression and child behavioural and developmental outcomes : an individual participant data meta-analysis in 76,514 children from the EU Child Cohort Network |
| Authors: |
Hermans, Adriana P.C.; Avraam, Demetris; Schuurmans, Isabel K.; Soares, Ana G.; Lahti-Pulkkinen, Marius; Girchenko, Polina; Vrijkotte, Tanja G.M.; de Rooij, Susanne R.; Elhakeem, Ahmed; van der Waerden, Judith; Heude, Barbara; Vainqueur, Chloé; Yang, Tiffany C.; Cheung, Rachael W.; Lewer, Dan; Strandberg-Larsen, Katrine; Cadman, Tim; Popovic, Maja; Candelora, Francesca; Lahti, Jari; Räikkönen, Katri; Cecil, Charlotte A.M.; El Marroun, Hanan |
| Contributors: |
Department of Psychology; Medicum; Developmental Psychology Research Group; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; HUS Gynecology and Obstetrics |
| Publisher Information: |
Elsevier Ltd. |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
Helsingfors Universitet: HELDA – Helsingin yliopiston digitaalinen arkisto |
| Subject Terms: |
Behaviour; Development; Mental health; Meta-analysis; Prenatal depression; Psychology; Neurology and psychiatry; Gynaecology and paediatrics |
| Description: |
Background: Prenatal maternal depression affects an estimated one in five women, with implications not only for the mother but also for the child, associating negatively with offspring mental health and cognition. This study aimed to investigate multiple outcomes within the same set of participants from multiple cohorts, explore sex-specific differences in associations, and examine of the role of timing of maternal depression. Methods: We performed large-scale individual participant data analyses with a sample size of up to 76,514 participants to investigate prospective associations between prenatal maternal depression and eight offspring behavioural and developmental outcomes, leveraging harmonised data from seven European birth cohorts. Cohort-specific estimates were combined using random-effects meta-analysis. Potential sex differences and the role of pre-pregnancy and postnatal depression in the associations were examined. Findings: Prenatal maternal depression was associated with higher internalising, externalising, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder symptoms (6.61–10.90 increased percentile scores). Associations were similar between males and females, largely independent of pre-pregnancy depression, and partially mediated by postnatal maternal depression. Continuous prenatal depressive symptoms were associated with all eight offspring outcomes. Interpretation: These findings emphasise the importance of prenatal maternal depression as a key developmental risk factor. Future work should consider how best to support mental health during pregnancy and children exposed to prenatal depression. Our results contribute to the growing evidence underscoring the need for early intervention and tailored support for those experiencing depression during pregnancy. Funding: HappyMums Project, funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement n.101057390). ; Peer reviewed |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
HappyMums Project, funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement n.101057390).The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of participating children and parents, research staff and data managers from all contributing cohorts as well as the DataSHIELD and Molgenis team. This work was supported by the HorizonEurope Research and Innovation Program (HappyMums, grant agreement No 101057390). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Cohort and author specific acknowledgements and funding can be found in the Supplement.; Funding HappyMums Project, funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement n.101057390) .; https://hdl.handle.net/10138/627742; 105028876350; 001680556400001 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/10138/627742 |
| Rights: |
cc_by ; info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; openAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.D48B97C4 |
| Database: |
BASE |