School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; EnAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; EnAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
J Psychiatr Res. 2024 Dec;180:16-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.09.037. Epub 2024 Sep 23.
While the physical health consequence of short interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) is well documented, its mental health impact is not well explored. This study aimed to examine the associations between IPIs and behavioural outcomes in children born following the interval at four developmental time points between ages 7 and 16.
Our study sample comprised participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort, an ongoing population-based longitudinal birth cohort in Bristol, Avon, United Kingdom. Behavioural problems, including total behavioural difficulties, hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer-problems, and problems of pro-social behaviour, were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Over 2300 mothers and their singleton children were included in this study. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to estimate odds ratios for the associations.
Children born to mothers with short IPI (<6 months) were 1.54 (95%CI: 1.12-2.11), 1.42 (95% CI: 1.12-1.81) and 1.37 (95%CI: 1.04-1.79) times more likely to have total behavioural difficulties, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention problems across the child's age, respectively, compared with children of mothers with IPIs of 18-23 months. We found no evidence of associations between short IPI (<6 months) and emotional symptoms, peer-relationship problems and pro-social behaviour problems.
Short IPI (<6 months) was associated with externalising (conduct and hyperactivity/inattention) but not internalising (emotional and peer-relationship problems) problems. Further studies are needed to confirm this association and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
虽然短间隔妊娠（IPI）对身体健康的影响已有充分的记录，但对其心理健康的影响尚未得到充分探索。本研究旨在四个发育时间点（7 至 16 岁）检查 IPI 与儿童行为结果之间的关联。
我们的研究样本包括英国布里斯托尔阿冯纵向研究父母和儿童（ALSPAC）队列中的参与者，这是一个正在进行的基于人群的纵向出生队列。使用《长处和困难问卷》（SDQ）评估行为问题，包括总行为困难、多动、情绪症状、行为问题、同伴问题和亲社会行为问题。本研究纳入了超过 2300 名母亲及其单胎儿童。使用广义估计方程（GEE）估计关联的优势比。
与 IPI 为 18-23 个月的母亲所生的儿童相比，母亲 IPI 较短（<6 个月）的儿童在儿童年龄范围内分别有 1.54 倍（95%CI：1.12-2.11）、1.42 倍（95%CI：1.12-1.81）和 1.37 倍（95%CI：1.04-1.79）更有可能出现总行为困难、行为问题和多动/注意力不集中问题。我们没有发现 IPI 较短（<6 个月）与情绪症状、同伴关系问题和亲社会行为问题之间存在关联的证据。
短 IPI（<6 个月）与外化问题（行为和多动/注意力不集中）有关，但与内化问题（情绪和同伴关系问题）无关。需要进一步的研究来证实这一关联，并阐明潜在的机制。
