Association between maternal depression and lower urinary tract symptoms in their primary school-age daughters: A birth cohort study

Shayna D. Cunningham*, Sarah Lindberg, Carol J Joinson, David Shoham, Haitao Chu, Diane Newman, Neill Epperson, Linda Brubaker

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

37 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Purpose:
Although maternal depression is associated with adverse outcomes in women and children, its relationship with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in offspring is less well-characterized. We examined the association between prenatal and postpartum maternal depression and LUTS in primary school-age daughters.

Design:
Observational cohort study.

Subjects and Setting:
The sample comprised 7148 mother-daughter dyads from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Method:
Mothers completed questionnaires about depressive symptoms at 18 and 32 weeks' gestation and 21 months postpartum and their children's LUTS (urinary urgency, nocturia, and daytime and nighttime wetting) at 6, 7, and 9 years of age. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between maternal depression and LUTS in daughters.

Results:
Compared to daughters of mothers without depression, those born to mothers with prenatal and postpartum depression had higher odds of LUTS, including urinary urgency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] range = 1.99-2.50) and nocturia (aOR range = 1.67-1.97) at 6, 7, and 9 years of age. Additionally, daughters born to mothers with prenatal and postpartum depression had higher odds of daytime wetting (aOR range = 1.81-1.99) and nighttime wetting (aOR range = 1.63-1.95) at 6 and 7 years of age. Less consistent associations were observed for depression limited to the prenatal or postpartum periods only.

Conclusions:
Exposure to maternal depression in the prenatal and postpartum periods was associated with an increased likelihood of LUTS in daughters. This association may be an important opportunity for childhood LUTS prevention. Prevention strategies should reflect an understanding of potential biological and environmental mechanisms through which maternal depression may influence childhood LUTS.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)53-60
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society / WOCN
Volume51
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Association between maternal depression and lower urinary tract symptoms in their primary school-age daughters: A birth cohort study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this