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Maternal Anxiety and Attention Problems in Children at 5 and 14 Years
Alexandra M. Clavarino*,
Abdullah A. Mamun,
Michael O'Callaghan,
Rosemary Aird,
William Bor,
Frances O'Callaghan,
Gail M. Williams,
Shelby Marrington,
Jackob M. Najman,
and
Rosa Alati
Univeristy of Queensland
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: a.clavarino{at}sph.uq.edu.au.
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Abstract |
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Objective: This study examines the association between maternal anxiety from pregnancy to 5 years and child attention problems at 5 and 14 years. Method: Birth cohort of 3,982 individuals born in Brisbane between 1981 and 1983 are assessed. Self-reported measures of maternal anxiety are assessed at four time points. Maternal reports of child attention problems using Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist are assessed at 5 and 14 years. Results: Children of mothers experiencing anxiety during or after pregnancy are at greater risk of experiencing attention problems at 5 and 14 years. After adjusting for maternal age and child’s gender, antenatal anxiety is strongly associated with persistent attention problems (OR = 3.65, 95% CI = 2.19, 6.07). Children with chronically anxious mothers are 5.67 (95% CI = 3.56, 9.03) times more likely to have persistent attention problems. These associations remain consistent after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusions: Maternal anxiety appears to increase the rate of child attention problems and identifies a need for treatment programs to have a dual focus—the mother and her child. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; XX(X) 1-XX)
First published on October 5, 2009
Journal of Attention Disorders 2009, doi:10.1177/1087054709347203
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