Prenatal determinants of anxiety symptoms in middle childhood. Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand

Background Early life environments can have long-lasting impacts on future health and wellbeing. Maternal health during pregnancy, including experiencing stress or mood disorders, has been associated with psychopathology in later life. Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent mental health conditions, affecting approximately 7 % of children and adolescents globally, with a lifetime prevalence of 15–20 %. Identifying prenatal risk factors can support future and current public health interventions and maternity care. Methods Data were obtained from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study of child development. Prenatally, mothers provided sociodemographic information as well as data on their mental health, potential teratogens, and lifestyle factors such as supplement intake and exercise levels. At 8-years old, 4922 children self-completed the PROMIS-SF anxiety measure. Bivariate analyses and backward stepwise regression were used to determine the best multivariable model. Results Significant prenatal predictors of anxiety symptoms at 8-years old included elevated maternal depression symptoms, body mass index in the overweight/obese range, exercise patterns, and paracetamol, anti-inflammatory and alcohol intake. Limitations Sample attrition from baseline to 8-year may have affected statistical power. To further untangle the effect of timing and duration of the exposures reported in this study, larger sample sizes would be required. Conclusions Prenatal mental health and wellbeing was significantly associated with child anxiety symptoms at 8-years of age. This study highlights the importance of supporting expectant mothers' health and wellbeing during pregnancy to ensure children have the best opportunity to have good mental health.