Association of maternal childhood neglect experiences  with offspring birth weight

WANG Qiwen; LIU Dan; XIONG Lu; LI Nuo; ZHANG Jinglei; GONG Yujie; ZHU Shaohua; ZHU Yuanzhong; YU Bin; YAN Hong

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1449

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (8) : 823-828. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1449

Original Articles

Association of maternal childhood neglect experiences with offspring birth weight

WANG Qiwen, LIU Dan, XIONG Lu, LI Nuo, ZHANG Jinglei, GONG Yujie, ZHU Shaohua, ZHU Yuanzhong, YU Bin, YAN Hong

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Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between maternal childhood neglect experiences and offspring birth weight, and to examine the mediating and moderating roles of prenatal depressive symptoms and family support, so as to provide a basis for reducing the incidence of adverse birth weight. Methods From September to December 2022 (and separately from April to December 2023), late-term pregnant women were recruited with the assistance of obstetricians at a county maternal and child health hospital and a municipal general hospital.Data on maternal adverse childhood experiences, prenatal family support, and offspring birth information were collected.Mediation and moderation analysis were conducted using the SPSS-PROCESS macro program. Results A total of 521 pregnant women and their offspring were included in the study.The median birth weight of newborns was 3 160.0 (2 900.0,3 410.0)g, with 5.6% classified as low birth weight and 2.7% as macrosomia.The mediation-moderation analysis revealed that depressive symptoms partially mediated the relationship between neglect and birth weight (β=-0.051, 95%CI:-0.082 to -0.023).Additionally, family support positively moderated both the effect of neglect on birth weight and the effect of depressive symptoms on birth weight (β=0.189, 95% CI:0.100 to 0.277; β=0.132, 95%CI:0.048 to 0.216). Conclusions Prenatal depressive symptoms and family support play mediating and moderating roles in the relationship between maternal childhood neglect experiences and offspring birth weight.Early identification of pregnant women with childhood neglect histories and targeted interventions addressing prenatal depression and family support may help reduce the occurrence of adverse birth weight.

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pregnant women / neglect / depressive symptoms / birth weight / family support

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WANG Qiwen, LIU Dan, XIONG Lu, LI Nuo, ZHANG Jinglei, GONG Yujie, ZHU Shaohua, ZHU Yuanzhong, YU Bin, YAN Hong. Association of maternal childhood neglect experiences with offspring birth weight[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(8): 823-828 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-1449

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