Impact of maternal postpartum depression on neurodevelopment of preterm infants during the first year of corrected age: A prospective longitudinal study.

Background

Preterm infants are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental difficulties, and maternal depressive symptoms may further affect early developmental outcomes. However, their longitudinal relationship remains unclear.

Methods

In this prospective longitudinal study, 286 mother-preterm infant dyads from a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China, were followed after discharge. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 2 weeks after discharge and at approximately 4-6 and 7-9 months postpartum. Infant neurodevelopment was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition, at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months corrected age. Cross-lagged panel modeling, group-based trajectory modeling, and logistic regression were performed.

Results

Maternal depressive symptoms declined over follow-up, with EPDS scores ≥10 decreasing from 41.96% to 31.81%. Infant developmental abnormalities decreased from 1 to 6 months corrected age and then increased slightly at 12 months. In the cross-lagged panel model, maternal depressive symptoms at the third assessment were associated with lower neurodevelopment scores at 12 months corrected age, whereas infant neurodevelopment at 3 months was associated with subsequent maternal depressive symptoms. Persistent maternal depressive symptoms were associated with a higher risk of overall developmental abnormality at 12 months corrected age (OR = 2.787, 95% CI 1.063-7.306), with stronger but exploratory associations observed in the gross motor, problem-solving, and personal-social domains.

Conclusions

Persistent maternal depressive symptoms were associated with adverse 12-month developmental outcomes in preterm infants, highlighting the potential value of repeated maternal mental health assessment and early developmental support after preterm birth.