title: The influence of anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy on birth size.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mental health problems during pregnancy can influence fetal growth. However, studies examining the influence of maternal mental health across the normal range of birth outcomes are uncommon. This study examined the associations between symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy on birth size among term Asian infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand forty-eight Asian pregnant women from a cohort Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes were recruited between 2009 to 2010 at two Singaporean maternity hospitals. At 26 weeks gestation, depressive symptoms were measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Health personnel recorded birthweight, birthlength, gestational age, and head circumference at birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine hundred forty-six women who delivered term infants had complete data. For this sample, the mean birthweight was 3146.6 g [standard deviation (SD) 399.0], the mean birthlength was 48.9 cm (SD 2.0). After controlling for several potential confounders, there was a significant negative association between STAI and birthlength [β = -0.248, confidence interval (CI) [-0.382, -0.115], P < 0.001] and a small negative association between EPDS and birthlength (β = -0.169, CI [-0.305, -0.033], P = 0.02). No associations were found between scores on the EPDS, BDI-II, and STAI with birthweight or head circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary data suggest that among term infants, anxiety and depressive symptoms are not associated with birthweight, while anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with a shorter birthlength.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore; Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Singapore.
authors.forename: Birit F P
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Broekman
authors.forename: Yiong-Huak
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yap-Seng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kwek
authors.forename: Sung Sharon
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Charlotte Louise
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Haley
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rifkin-Graboi
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gluckman
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Meaney
authors.forename: Seang-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Saw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D044466:Asian People; D001724:Birth Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: anxiety; birthlength; birthweight; depression; pregnancy