There has been renewed interest in recent years in the short- and long-term effects of prenatal maternal anxiety (PMA) on offspring. Although relations between PMA and adverse birth outcomes have been established previously, the nature of these relations is not well-characterized. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the effects of PMA last into late childhood and adolescence to increase the offspring’s risk of depression. The goals of this dissertation were: 1) Characterize the relations between PMA and birth outcomes; 2) Determine the correlates of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among offspring; 3) Determine whether PMA predicts depressive symptoms in offspring at 10 to 16 years. Women (n=829) of low socioeconomic status, recruited from a prenatal clinic, were assessed for trait anxiety (PMA) during their fourth and seventh gestational months, and at delivery, in a study of prenatal substance use. There were 763 live singleton births. At 10, 14, and 16 years post-partum, trait anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured in women and their offspring. Offspring were assessed at 16 years for MDD. Demographic, social, substance use, medical, psychological, and psychiatric status were controlled. It was demonstrated in the first paper that PMA predicted lower birth weight, shorter birth length, and shorter gestational length, controlling for confounders. Women who reported chronic, severe trait anxiety were at the highest risk of having shorter gestations and delivering smaller babies. The second paper established that female gender, a history of childhood maltreatment, and a maternal history of MDD independently increased the odds of MDD in the 16-year-olds. Daughters of women with a history of MDD were particularly vulnerable. The third paper found that PMA was related to level of depressive symptoms in late childhood and adolescence. These effects were significant, controlling for current maternal depression. Female gender and lower maternal education also predicted depressive symptoms in children ages 10-16 years. There was a significant interaction between gender and follow-up assessment. These findings have public health implications: maternal psychological health during pregnancy and throughout the child’s development should be monitored in order to improve birth outcomes and psychological health of children and adolescents
