Relationship between maternal emotional symptoms and emotional and behavioral problems of preschool offspring / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To explore the relationship between maternal emotional symptoms and emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs) of preschool offspring, and to provide reference for prevention and intervention of emotional and behavior problems in preschool children.@*Methods@#A total of 4 100 preschool children aged 3-6 in Fuyang City were enrolled by stratified cluster sampling method in June 2021. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were used to investigate preschool children s EBPs and maternal emotional symptoms, respectively.@*Results@#The detection rates of preschool children s emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer interaction problems, prosocial behavior and difficulty scores were 15.7%, 17.4%, 20.0%, 32.3%, 15.1% and 15.8%, respectively. The detection rates of mother s depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were 7.9%, 12.7% and 4.8%, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with children of mothers with no depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, offspring of mothers reported depression, anxiety and stress symptoms had significantly higher risks of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems and total difficulties ( OR=1.76-6.35, P <0.01). Maternal emotional symptoms had the most significant effect on children s emotional symptoms, and there was no significant correlation between maternal stress symptoms and children s prosocial behavior ( OR=1.40, P >0.05). There was no significant gender difference in the relationship between maternal emotional symptoms and children s emotional and behavioral problems ( ROR=0.73-1.07, P >0.05). For only children whose mothers reported stress symptoms showed a higher risk of emotional and behavior problems than non singleton children ( ROR=2.03, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#Maternal emotional symptoms are related to preschool children s emotional and behavioral problems. Early identification and intervention of mother s negative emotional symptoms, are beneficial to the prevention of preschool children s emotional and behavioral problems.