The association between maternal depression and anxiety on nutritional problems in children aged 6 to 36 months

Maternal depression and anxiety can cause nutritional problems in offspring. Despite the numerous literature, the knowledge regarding the impact of maternal mental health on child’s eating disorder is still limited. This study explored the impact of maternal depression and anxiety on eating disorders among children aged 6 to 36 months in Tehran, Iran.

A total number of 320 children aged 6 to 36 months old and their mothers were enrolled at a teaching university hospital in Tehran (Ziaeian Hospital). To collect the data, the inventory of problematic eating behaviors for 36-month old children, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire, and demographic information questionnaire were used. To examine the relationship between maternal depression and anxiety with childhood feeding problems, bivariate (Chi-square) and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were employed.

The mean mothers’ depression and anxiety scores were found to be 15.97 (SD = 12.08) and 14.26 (SD = 11.87), respectively. An estimated 23.8 % of children were suffering from eating disorders. There was a significant association between the mother’s severe depression and child’s eating disorder [OR = 5.7; CI (95%) = 2.92-11.43]. Although this association attenuated for the moderate level of depression in mothers, it was still statistically significant [OR= 2.25; CI (95%) = 1.05-4.8]. There was also a significant association between the moderate level of anxiety in mother and child’s eating disorder [OR = 2.17; CI (95%) = 1.15-4.10].

It appeared that the children of mothers with higher levels of depression experienced more eating disorders during childhood. Furthermore, middle maternal anxiety level was associated with more feeding abnormalities in children. Therefore, screening and addressing the mental health issues in mothers at the early stages could prevent from future eating disorders in offspring.