Peer-reviewed article

Impact of maternal postpartum depression on neurodevelopment of preterm infants during the first year of corrected age: A prospective longitudinal study.

Ling Chen, Xuqi Tian, Qing Zhang, Yanjie Yi, Mays Basha et al. · 23 Sept 2026

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental difficulties, and maternal depressive symptoms may further affect early developmental outcomes. However, their longitudinal relationship remains unclear. METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal study, 286 mother-preterm infant dyads from a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China, were followed after discharge. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 2 weeks after discharge and at approximately 4-6 and 7-9 months postpartum. Infant neurodevelopment was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition, at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months corrected age. Cross-lagged panel modeling, group-based trajectory modeling, and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Maternal depressive symptoms declined over follow-up, with EPDS scores ≥10 decreasing from 41.96% to 31.81%. Infant developmental abnormalities decreased from 1 to 6 months corrected age and then increased slightly at 12 months. In the cross-lagged panel model, maternal depressive symptoms at the third assessment were associated with lower neurodevelopment scores at 12 months corrected age, whereas infant neurodevelopment at 3 months was associated with subsequent maternal depressive symptoms. Persistent maternal depressive symptoms were associated with a higher risk of overall developmental abnormality at 12 months corrected age (OR = 2.787, 95% CI 1.063-7.306), with stronger but exploratory associations observed in the gross motor, problem-solving, and personal-social domains. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent maternal depressive symptoms were associated with adverse 12-month developmental outcomes in preterm infants, highlighting the potential value of repeated maternal mental health assessment and early developmental support after preterm birth.