Association between maternal depression symptoms and child telomere length.

Walker, CG; Thayer, ZM; Marks, EJ; Ly, KN; Pillai, A; Waldie, K; Underwood, L; Snell, RG; Knowles, SD; Cha, JE; Morton, SMB

Association between maternal depression symptoms and child telomere length.

Walker, CG Thayer, ZM Marks, EJ Ly, KN Pillai, A Waldie, K Underwood, L Snell, RG Knowles, SD Cha, JE Morton, SMB

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: J Psychiatr Res, 2024, 174, pp. 319-325
Issue Date:: 2024-06

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Walker, CG
dc.contributor.author	Thayer, ZM
dc.contributor.author	Marks, EJ
dc.contributor.author	Ly, KN
dc.contributor.author	Pillai, A
dc.contributor.author	Waldie, K
dc.contributor.author	Underwood, L
dc.contributor.author	Snell, RG
dc.contributor.author	Knowles, SD
dc.contributor.author	Cha, JE
dc.contributor.author	Morton, SMB
dc.date.accessioned	2024-10-08T01:40:22Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-19
dc.date.available	2024-10-08T01:40:22Z
dc.date.issued	2024-06
dc.identifier.citation	J Psychiatr Res, 2024, 174, pp. 319-325
dc.identifier.issn	0022-3956
dc.identifier.issn	1879-1379
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181229
dc.description.abstract	The biological mechanisms that explain how adverse early life events influence adult disease risk are poorly understood. One proposed mechanism is via the induction of accelerated biological aging, for which telomere length is considered a biomarker. We aimed to determine if maternal depression pre- and post-partum was associated with telomere length in children at 4 years of age (n = 4299). Mothers completed structured questionnaires assessing depression during pregnancy (Edinburgh Depression Scale), at 9 months (Edinburgh Depression Scale), and at 54 months postpartum (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). Regression methods were used to investigate the relationship between telomere length (DNA from saliva) and maternal depression score recorded at each stage. Significant covariates included in the final model were: maternal age at pregnancy; child sex; child ethnicity; gestational age group, and rurality group. Child telomere length was found to be longer if their mother had a higher depression score at both postpartum time points tested (9 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.001, P = 0.01, 54 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.002, P = 0.02). Although these findings seem paradoxical, increased telomere length may be an adaptive response to early life stressors. We propose several testable hypotheses for these results and to determine if the positive association between depression and telomere length is a developmental adaptation or an indirect consequence of environmental factors.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	J Psychiatr Res
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.037
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Psychiatry
dc.subject.classification	3202 Clinical sciences
dc.subject.classification	5203 Clinical and health psychology
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Depression
dc.subject.mesh	Infant
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Telomere
dc.subject.mesh	Telomere Shortening
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy Complications
dc.subject.mesh	Depression, Postpartum
dc.subject.mesh	Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
dc.subject.mesh	Telomere
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy Complications
dc.subject.mesh	Depression, Postpartum
dc.subject.mesh	Depression
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Infant
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Telomere Shortening
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Depression
dc.subject.mesh	Infant
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Telomere
dc.subject.mesh	Telomere Shortening
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy Complications
dc.subject.mesh	Depression, Postpartum
dc.subject.mesh	Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
dc.title	Association between maternal depression symptoms and child telomere length.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	174
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Women & Children’s Health Research Collaborative (WCHC)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/INSIGHT: Institute for Innovative Solutions for Well-being and Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-10-08T01:40:20Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	174

Abstract:

The biological mechanisms that explain how adverse early life events influence adult disease risk are poorly understood. One proposed mechanism is via the induction of accelerated biological aging, for which telomere length is considered a biomarker. We aimed to determine if maternal depression pre- and post-partum was associated with telomere length in children at 4 years of age (n = 4299). Mothers completed structured questionnaires assessing depression during pregnancy (Edinburgh Depression Scale), at 9 months (Edinburgh Depression Scale), and at 54 months postpartum (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). Regression methods were used to investigate the relationship between telomere length (DNA from saliva) and maternal depression score recorded at each stage. Significant covariates included in the final model were: maternal age at pregnancy; child sex; child ethnicity; gestational age group, and rurality group. Child telomere length was found to be longer if their mother had a higher depression score at both postpartum time points tested (9 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.001, P = 0.01, 54 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.002, P = 0.02). Although these findings seem paradoxical, increased telomere length may be an adaptive response to early life stressors. We propose several testable hypotheses for these results and to determine if the positive association between depression and telomere length is a developmental adaptation or an indirect consequence of environmental factors.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181229