Monitor on Psychology - December 2011 - (Page 12)

Upfront Maternal depression stunts childhood growth, research suggests Maternal depression is a familiar plight around the globe — but its impact may be particularly acute in low-income nations. An analysis by epidemiologist Pamela Surkan, PhD, ScD, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and psychologist Maureen Black, PhD, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and colleagues showed that maternal depression in developing countries was linked to growth problems in children (Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2011). The World Health Organization estimates the incidence of depressive symptoms among women in developing countries at anywhere from 15 percent to 57 percent — figures thought to be notably higher, Black says, than incidence of depressive mood in the United States. Childhood growth problems are also common in those countries, and several studies have found a link between growth and maternal depression. To further investigate the connection, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 17 recent studies. They found that mothers with depressive symptoms were 40 percent more likely to have underweight or height-stunted children than mothers who were not depressed. Stunting under age 2 is important, Black says, because it’s an indicator of chronic nutrition problems. The concern extends beyond mere height. Children who are undernourished are at greater risk of low educational performance, reduced economic productivity and poorer health in adulthood. Importantly, Black says, most of the studies she included in the analysis looked at depressive symptoms and depressive mood, not just clinically diagnosed depression. Since depressive symptoms are much more common than full-blown major depression, the ramifications for children’s well-being could be far-reaching. Most of the studies did not investigate the mechanism that underlies the connection between maternal depression and childhood stunting. The few that did suggested that depressive symptoms might negatively affect a mother’s caregiving ability. “Mothers who are depressed are less responsive to their children and may have less energy to follow through with their children, so caregiving suffers,” Black says. Still, other mechanisms may be implicated as well. Depressed women may be less likely to breastfeed, for instance. And depression often goes hand-in-hand with factors such as poor family support and financial stress, both of which can undermine the health of a child. “It’s likely that there’s more than one mechanism,” Black says. More research is needed to flesh out the details, says Surkan. 12 Photos.com Children of depressed mothers are more likely to be undernourished, putting their growth at risk. But in the meantime, she adds, there are plenty of other reasons to address maternal depression. “Even if confirmatory research still needs to be done, I don’t think it would be too soon to say that we should do something about maternal depressive symptoms, both for the mothers and the children.” The authors report that some low-cost approaches, including social support, group therapy and home visits by lay community workers, have been shown to ease depressive symptoms among women in developing nations. But establishing affordable, effective interventions will require a multidisciplinary approach that draws on psychologists, nutritionists and public health experts, Black says. “This is an illustration of how psychology can work with broad health issues,” she says. —K. WEiR Monitor on psychology • DeceMber 2011 http://www.photos.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - December 2011

Monitor on Psychology - December 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Willpower Pioneer Wins $100,000 Grawemeyer Prize
Single-Sex Schooling Called Into Question by Prominent Researchers
Maternal Depression Stunts Childhood Growth, Research Suggests
For Boys, Sharing May Seem Like a Waste of Time
Good News for Postdoc Applicants
In Brief
Treatment Guideline Development Now Under Way
Government Relations Update
Psychologist Named Va Mental Health Chief
The Limits of Eyewitness Testimony
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
Time Capsule
Deconstructing Suicide
Questionnaire
A Focus on Interdisciplinarity
A Time of ‘Enormous Change’
The Science Behind Team Science
Good Science Requires Good Conflict
A New Paradigm of Care
Speaking of Education
Science Directions
New Labels, New Attitudes?
Psychologist Profile
Early Career Psychology
Unintended Consequences
Better Options for Troubled Teens
Saving Lives, One Organ at a Time
New Journal Editors
APA News
Division Spotlight
Guidelines for the Conduct of President-Elect Nominations and Elections
American Psychological Foundation
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - December 2011