Abstract
Objective: ADHD symptoms can adversely impact functioning in a range of domains relevant for maternal well-being and fetal development; however, there has been almost no research examining their impact during pregnancy. We aimed to address this gap. Method: We used data (n = 1,204) from a longitudinal birth cohort study spanning eight countries to address this gap. Results: ADHD symptoms in the third trimester of pregnancy were associated with lower social support from family (b = −0.16, p =.031), friends (b = −0.16, p =.024), and significant others (b = −0.09, p =.001); higher stress (b = 0.34, p <.001) and depressive symptoms (b = 0.31, p <.001), and increased likelihood of an unwanted pregnancy (b = 0.30, p =.009). Significant associations with tobacco use (b = 0.36, p =.023) and premature birth (b = 0.35, p =.007) did not survive correction for multiple comparisons and there were no significant associations with alcohol use, low birth weight, or unplanned pregnancy. Conclusion: Results suggest that women with ADHD symptoms could benefit from earlier, more regular screening for mental health difficulties and greater mental health support during pregnancy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1882-1894 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Journal of Attention Disorders |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2022 |
Keywords
- ADHD symptoms
- depression
- perinatal
- social support
- stress
- substance use