Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39470450›Full record

ArticleSleep2025

Maternal depressive symptoms in and beyond the perinatal period: associations with infant and preschooler sleep.

Mikaela L Carter, Sarah-Jane Paine, Bronwyn M Sweeney, Joanne E Taylor, T Leigh Signal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Sleep, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mikaela L CarterSleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-6452-0609
Sarah-Jane PaineFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand and.
Bronwyn M SweeneySleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
Joanne E TaylorSchool of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0001-8502-3452
T Leigh SignalSleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-3414-1982

Funding

Health Research Council of New Zealand 08/547Massey University Vice Chancellor's Doctoral Scholarship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

objectives(1) To describe sleep in infancy and early childhood among children born to mothers with and without clinically significant depressive symptoms, and (2) to explore the relationships between maternal depressive symptoms and sleep patterns and problems during infancy and early childhood.

methodsSecondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Moe Kura: Mother and Child, Sleep and Wellbeing in Aotearoa/New Zealand study. Data were collected in pregnancy (T1), 12 weeks postpartum (T2), and 3 years post-birth (T3). Participants were 262 Māori and 594 non-Māori mother-child dyads. Chi-square and independent t-tests measured bivariate associations between maternal mood (T1, T2, and T3) and child sleep characteristics (T2 and T3). Binary logistic regression models examined longitudinal and concurrent associations between maternal depressive symptoms and infant and preschooler sleep. Adjusted models accounted for key socio-demographic variables, as well as infant sleep variables in preschooler models.

resultsBivariate associations were found between prior and concurrent depressive symptomology and many of the infant and preschooler sleep outcomes. In adjusted models, prenatal depressive symptoms remained independently associated with shorter-than-recommended sleep durations in preschoolers. In these models, concurrent depression was also associated with night waking, night LSRSP, and perceived sleep problems at 12 weeks postpartum, and CSHQ-determined and perceived sleep problems at 3 years post-birth.

conclusionsLongitudinal and cross-sectional associations were found between maternal depressive symptoms and child sleep. Sleep appears to be one pathway by which maternal depression confers risk for suboptimal child health outcomes. Findings support the need for earlier and better maternal mental health services.

Indexed as

DepressionMothersSleepSleep Wake DisordersAdultChild, PreschoolDepression, PostpartumFemaleHumansInfantLongitudinal StudiesMaleNew ZealandPregnancychild sleepdepressionhealth inequitiesinfantsmaternal mental healthperinatalpregnancypreschoolerssleep durationsleep problems

Identifiers

PMID39470450
PMCPMC11985387

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.