Postpartum Depression May Affect Kids’ Self-Control — And Their Eating Habits

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New research found that when mothers experience postpartum depression, their children may struggle with self-control and emotional regulation, which can lead to emotional overeating as they grow older.

Previous research has shown the significant impact that postpartum depression during the first year postpartum can have on the well-being of the mother, infant and families.

“Elevated postpartum depression symptoms can affect parenting behaviors and the environment, leading to less responsive, more stressed or inconsistent caregiving,” wrote a team of investigators led by Samantha J. Iwinski, Ph.D., a visiting postdoctoral research associate within the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Illinois. “This environment may limit a child’s opportunities for optimal cognitive and emotional development, affecting skills essential for executive functioning.”

Mothers experiencing postpartum depression may also be more likely to engage in emotional overeating, which can increase the risk of obesity and emotional eating in the child. Therefore, the team theorized that higher levels of depression would lead to worse emotional control and higher levels of emotional overeating.

Investigators followed nearly 300 families from a longitudinal birth cohort study (Midwest STRONG Kids2), of which approximately half of the children (49%) were female at birth and most (82%) caregivers were White. Postpartum depression was determined at six weeks using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Children’s executive function was measured using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version at 24 months, and the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire assessed emotional overeating at 48 months.

The average EPDS score was 4.38, and 54 mothers met the requirements of clinical depression.

Results — which accounted for the gender of the child, parental race and education — revealed that children of mothers with higher postpartum depression symptoms at six weeks postpartum had more difficulty with inhibition and emotional control at 24 months, which then contributed to higher emotional overeating behaviors at 48 months.

Investigators noted this connection might indicate that maternal depression could impact the responsive interactions that are necessary for affective and behavioral coregulation. This can in turn hinder the child’s ability to control their emotions and inhibitions, which are crucial in emotional eating.

These findings highlight the importance of screening for postpartum depression comprehensively and addressing it early, even if symptoms aren’t severe, to support children’s emotional and eating behaviors.

The research team suggests support groups and mindfulness-based interventions to improve emotional regulation and help manage stress among caregivers, which can lead to a more supportive environment at home.

Although the study adds to the literature on postpartum depression, emotional overeating and executive function, investigators noted some limitations including a lack of diversity in race/ethnicity and educational level, which has been shown to impact the expression of postpartum depression on the EPDS. Additionally, they did not control for parental support, parenting stress, the physical health of the mother, the child’s temperament, social support networks and socioeconomic status. The team believes these variables could offer a more comprehensive understanding of how postpartum depression might impact the child’s eating behaviors.

Investigators wrote that future research should focus on improving the generalizability of the findings and consider the role of fathers and other caregivers in a child’s development.

“Given the profound impact of early maternal depressive symptoms, our findings highlight the critical need for early intervention,” investigators concluded. “Timely identification and support for mothers experiencing postpartum depressive symptoms could play a key role in mitigating potential negative impacts on children’s development.”