Maternal depression trajectories and child executive function over 9 years

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to assess the relationship between maternal depression trajectories from pregnancy to 2 years after childbirth and childhood behavioral problems and executive function at 9 years.

METHODS

Data of mother-child pairs (N = 1191) extracted from the Panel Study on Korean Children (a cohort study) were used. Maternal depression was assessed using the Kessler depression scale during pregnancy and at 6 months, 1 years, and 2 years postpartum. At ages 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 years, the children's behavioral outcomes were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist. The children's executive function was assessed using the Executive Function Difficulty Screening Questionnaire at ages 7, 8, and 9 years. We performed a latent profile analysis to identify maternal depression trajectories and compared the children's behavioral problems and executive function among different trajectories.

RESULTS

According to maternal depression trajectory, the mother-child pairs were divided into the no symptom (n = 503), mild symptom (n = 558), and moderate symptom (n = 130) groups. Children of mothers with significant depressive symptoms had severe behavioral problems at ages 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 years. Moreover, compared with children whose mothers were not depressed, those whose mothers had mild or moderate symptoms had impaired executive function at ages 7, 8, and 9 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal depression up to 2 years after childbirth affects childhood behavior and executive function into middle childhood.

Defining Subtypes in Children with Nail Biting: A Latent Profile Analysis of Personality

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine personality profiles and behavioral problems of children with nail biting (NB) to gain insight into the developmental trajectory of pathological NB.

METHODS

681 elementary school students were divided into non NB (n=436), occasional NB (n=173) and frequent NB group (n=72) depending on the frequency of NB reported in Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL). Children's personality was assessed using the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), and behavioral problems were assessed using the CBCL. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was performed using JTCI profiles to classify personalities of the children with NB (belonging to frequent and occasional NB group, n=245).

RESULTS

For subscale scores of CBCL, the total, internalizing, externalizing, anxious/depressed withdrawn/depressed, depression, thought, rule-breaking, and aggressive behavior problems, were most severe in the frequent NB group followed by occasional NB and non NB group. LPA of personality profile in children with NB revealed four classes ('adaptiveness,' 'high reward dependence,' 'low self-directedness,' and 'maldaptiveness'). The four personality classes demonstrated significant group differences in all of the CBCL subscales. Children who showed low self-directedness and cooperativeness and high novelty seeking and harm avoidance personality profiles demonstrated highest tendency for problematic behavior irrespective of the frequency of NB.

CONCLUSION

Children with NB reported significantly more problematic behaviors compared to children without NB. Children with specific personality profile demonstrated higher tendency for problematic behavior irrespective of the frequency of NB. Therefore, accompanying personality profiles should be considered when assessing behavioral problems in children with NB.

Hirsutenols D, E and F, new sesquiterpenes from the culture broth of Stereum hirsutum

New sesquiterpenes, hirsutenols D-F, were isolated from the fermentation broth of Stereum hirsutum, and their structures were determined on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses. Hirsutenols E and F showed significant scavenging activity against superoxide anion radicals with EC50 values of 1.62 and 0.39 mM, respectively.