Long-term effects of unintended pregnancy on children
Findings from the Dutch prospective birth-cohort Amsterdam born children and their development study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4592863 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Wieke Y Beumer (0000-0001-5239-5719, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, corresponding author), Marjette H Koot (0000-0002-2683-0737, Amsterdam University Medical Centers), Tanja Vrijkotte (0000-0003-3641-4048, Amsterdam University Medical Centers), T J Roseboom (0000-0003-0564-5994, Amsterdam University Medical Centers), Jenneke Van Ditzhuijzen (0000-0003-0560-4949, Amsterdam University Medical Centers) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 357 |
| Pages | 117200 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Science & Medicine (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117200 |
| PMID | 39142143 |
| OpenAlex | W4401434598 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 47 |
Several studies investigated short-term risks of children born from unintended pregnancies, however evidence about long-term risks is lacking. We aimed to examine whether children born from unintended pregnancies experience psychosocial problems up into adolescence. This study is based on the longitudinal birth cohort study 'Amsterdam Born Children and their Development' (n = 7784). Unintended pregnancy was measured as a multidimensional construct, based on self-reports on the extent of pregnancy mistiming ('This pregnancy happened too soon'), unwantedness ('I did not want to be pregnant (anymore)') and unhappiness ('I am happy to be pregnant'; recoded). Further, children's psychosocial problems were measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, at 5-6, 11-12 and 15-16 years old. Multiple over-time associations between unintended pregnancy and children's psychosocial problems were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling, while controlling for confounders. Results showed that pregnancy mistiming was a significant predictor of internalizing (β = 0.10, p < 0.001) and externalizing problems (β = 0.07, p = 0.006) and unwanted pregnancy of internalizing problems (β = 0.13, p < 0.001) at 5-6 years. These associations were substantially mediated by maternal mental health and poorer maternal bonding. Associations were no longer present at 11-12 and 15-16 years. Thus, we conclude that children born from unintended pregnancies experience more psychosocial problems at 5-6 years, but no longer at 11-12 and 15-16 years. Unintended pregnancies often coincide with maternal mental health problems and socioeconomic factors. Most importantly, the associations between unintended pregnancy and children's psychosocial problems are influenced by maternal mental health and poorer bonding. Therefore it is important to improve maternal mental health and bonding for the benefit of both mother and child, rather than on the isolated effect of unintended pregnancy per se
Cohort · Cohort study · Confounding · Environmental health · Family planning · Fertility · Longitudinal study · Mental health · Obstetrics · Population · Pregnancy · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Socioeconomic status · Unintended pregnancy · Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy · Demography · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Pediatrics
Intention to Become Pregnant and Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth
Bias influencing maternal reports of child behaviour and emotional state
On the Joys of Missing Data
Dutch version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences
Evaluating Model Fit With Ordered Categorical Data Within a Measurement Invariance Framework
Selective drop-out in longitudinal studies and non-biased prediction of behaviour disorders
Adverse childhood experiences and trajectories of internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behaviors from childhood to adolescence
The Intendedness of Pregnancy
The structure of negative emotional states
Country-specific estimates of unintended pregnancy and abortion incidence
The Long-Term Impact of Maternal Anxiety and Depression Postpartum and in Early Childhood on Child and Paternal Mental Health at 11–12 Years Follow-Up
Clustering of characteristics associated with unplanned pregnancies
Stability of Retrospective Pregnancy Intention Reporting Among Women with Unwanted Pregnancies in the United States
Parental Pregnancy Wantedness and Child Social-Emotional Development
The Effects of Unintended Pregnancy on Infant, Child, and Parental Health
Outcomes for Children and Families Following Unplanned Pregnancy
Correlates of Common Mental Disorders Among Dutch Women Who Have Had an Abortion
Effect of Pregnancy Intention on Child Well-Being and Development
Conceptualisation, development, and evaluation of a measure of unplanned pregnancy
The Implications of Unintended Pregnancies for Mental Health in Later Life
Pregnancy Intentions, Maternal Behaviors, and Infant Health
The effect of pregnancy intention on child development
Toward a Multidimensional Measure of Pregnancy Intentions
Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures
Emotions over five years after denial of abortion in the United States
Born Unwanted, 35 Years Later
Does an Unplanned Pregnancy Have Long-Term Implications for Mother-Child Relationships
Retrospective Reports of Pregnancy Wantedness and Child Well-Being in the United States
Preconception Motivation and Pregnancy Wantedness
Reconsidering Baron and Kenny
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |