Maternal and childhood psychological factors predict chronic disabling fatigue at age 13 years

Simon M. Collin*, Kate Tilling, Carol Joinson, Katharine A. Rimes, Rebecca M. Pearson, Rachael A. Hughes, Jonathan A.C. Sterne, Esther Crawley

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose To investigate whether premorbid maternal and childhood psychological problems are risk factors for chronic disabling fatigue at age 13 years among children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort. Methods Chronic disabling fatigue was defined as fatigue of at least 3-month, and up to 5-year, duration that prevented school attendance or hobbies/sport/leisure activities, and for which other causes were not identified. Maternal psychological factors were symptoms of anxiety and depression assessed up to eight times between pregnancy and age 6 years. We investigated critical periods for maternal effects and effects of paternal depression at three time points. Child psychological factors included internalizing and externalizing problems and upsetting life events occurring at age 7-8 years. Results Of 5,657 children, 110 (1.9%) had chronic disabling fatigue at age 13 years. Maternal anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.31 per episode), maternal depression (AOR, 1.24; CI, 1.11-1.39 per episode), child psychological problems (AOR, 1.19; CI, 1.00-1.41 per problem), and upsetting events (AOR, 1.22; CI,.99-1.58 per event) were associated with chronic disabling fatigue. Associations of child psychological problems and upsetting events were attenuated (AOR, 1.12; CI,.93-1.33 per problem; AOR, 1.19; CI,.94-1.52 per event) after further adjusting for maternal anxiety and depression. Conclusions Pediatricians need to be aware that children whose mothers experience anxiety and/or depression between pregnancy and child's age 6 years have an increased risk of developing chronic disabling fatigue in early adolescence. Conversely, clinicians need to be alert to fatigue in children whose mothers have longstanding anxiety and depression. These findings suggest the importance of family-based approaches to treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)181-187
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Adolescent Health
Volume56
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2015
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health

Keywords

  • Childhood adversity
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Maternal depression
  • Pediatric fatigue

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