Samantha Iwinski (Credit: College of ACES)
Up to 25% of new mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD), a condition that can profoundly affect parenting behavior and child development. A recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign highlights the long-term effects of early maternal depression on children, emphasizing the critical need for adequate support and intervention for struggling mothers.
The findings reinforce the importance of early detection and mental health resources to improve maternal well-being and foster healthy child development. Addressing postpartum depression effectively can lead to better emotional, cognitive, and social outcomes for children in the long run.
“We wanted to explore how mother’s early postpartum depression might influence children’s executive function and emotional overeating, focusing on the psychological mechanisms driving the effects,” said lead author Samantha Iwinski, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Illinois.
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“Emotional overeating is about using food to cope with stress or emotions rather than using it to satisfy hunger. Instead of thinking about food as a source of nourishment or enjoyment, it becomes a coping strategy for negative emotions. If children aren’t able to talk about their emotions or show how they really feel, they may react to a stressful situation by grabbing something to eat,” Iwinski said.
This study, part of the Midwest STRONG Kids2 project, examined how biological and family factors influence healthy eating in young children. Researchers analyzed data from mothers who completed questionnaires about their postpartum depression (at six weeks), their children’s emotional functioning (at 24 months), and their children’s eating behavior (at 48 months). Applying the biopsychosocial pathways model, the study revealed that postpartum depression, a key social factor, predicted emotional overeating in children. This connection was mediated by the children’s emotional and cognitive development.
In addition to the indirect effects on eating behavior through executive functioning, there was also a direct correlation between maternal depression and children’s overeating.
Mothers who suffer from postpartum depression may be less responsive to their children’s cognitive and emotional needs, which can affect healthy development and capacity for self-regulation. Women with postpartum depression symptoms may also engage in appetite fluctuation, modeling this behavior for their children.
The researchers say their findings underscore the need for early intervention and support for women who suffer from depression.
“By supporting the mother’s mental health, we’re really supporting the families, because of the long-term effects on children. It’s important to have early identification of what might be happening in order to help families teach their children healthy strategies for coping with emotions, such as play, mindfulness, or even just talking about our feelings,” Iwinski stated.
“Teachers and other supportive adults can also participate in supporting children and families. For example, they can be looking at eating patterns, noticing how children might be reacting in certain situations, and if food might be a coping mechanism for them. They can then use that information to talk about other ways to deal with emotions and bring the family more into the conversation.”
