Association of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Perinatal Maternal Depression with Early Childhood Behavioral Problems: An Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Study
Lauren C. Shuffrey, Santiago Morales, Melanie H. Jacobson, Michelle Bosquet Enlow, Akhgar Ghassabian, Amy Margolis, Maristella Lucchini, Kecia N. Carroll, Rosa M. Crum, Dana Dabelea, Arielle R. Deutsch, William P. Fifer, Brandon Goldson, Christine W. Hockett, W. Alex Mason, Lisette T. Jacobson, Thomas G. O’Connor, Nicolò Pini, Yael Rayport, Ayesha Sania, Leonardo Trasande, Rosalind J. Wright, Seonjoo Lee, Catherine Monk
Abstract
This study examined the association of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), prenatal, and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms with externalizing, internalizing, and autism spectrum problems on the Preschool Child Behavior Checklist in 2379 children aged 4.12 ± 0.60 (48% female; 47% White, 32% Black, 15% Mixed Race, 4% Asian, <2% American Indian/Alaskan Native, <2% Native Hawaiian; 23% Hispanic). Data were collected from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program from 2009-2021. GDM, prenatal, and postnatal maternal depressive symptoms were each associated with increased child externalizing and internalizing problems. GDM was associated with increased autism behaviors only among children exposed to perinatal maternal depressive symptoms above the median level. Stratified analyses revealed a relation between GDM and child outcomes in males only.