Report
Intergenerational disadvantage: why maternal mental health matters
Publisher
Mothers
Maternal and infant welfare
Pregnancy
Mental health
New Zealand
Resources
Attachment | Size |
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Intergenerational disadvantage: why maternal mental health matters | 348.29 KB |
Description
This paper analyses and synthesises new research linking a mother’s prenatal mental health to the child’s brain development, and shows how this ties into the problem of intergenerational disadvantage in New Zealand.
Children whose mothers experienced depression/anxiety during pregnancy are more likely to have impaired brain (‘executive’) function, with lifelong consequences. This suggests that there is a biological contribution to intergenerational disadvantage, in addition to environmental factors, and that interventions focusing on maternal mental wellbeing to promote children’s brain function could have significant impact.
Publication Details
Copyright:
Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures 2021
Access Rights Type:
open
Post date:
27 May 2021