Examining the impact of child atopic dermatitis on maternal depression: A longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Longitudinal data on mental health in caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis (AD) are limited.

OBJECTIVE

Examine the relationship between child AD activity and severity with maternal depression across childhood.

METHODS

Longitudinal cohort study of 12,124 mother-child dyads from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

RESULTS

Mixed linear regression models revealed mothers of children with active AD had higher Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores, with an average increase of 0.33 points (95% CI, 0.17-0.49) after adjusting for child sex, age, maternal age at delivery, maternal race and ethnicity, measures of socioeconomic status, maternal history of AD, and maternal history of pre- and postnatal depression. Severe AD was associated with a 0.68-point increase in EPDS scores (95% CI, 0.46-0.90) or a 45% increase in the odds of clinically relevant symptoms (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.12-1.87). A dose-response relationship between maternal depression and AD severity was observed throughout childhood, with the largest effect sizes at ages 3 to 7 years among mothers of children with severe AD from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

LIMITATION: Potential reporting bias from participant self-reports.

CONCLUSIONS

Child AD was associated with higher maternal depression scores, especially during early childhood for mothers of children from disadvantaged backgrounds with more severe AD.