News From Multiple Perspectives

Mental health during pregnancy may impact child's risk of developing depression: Study

Published July 8, 2026 at 1:15 PM UTC

Authored by
Every article published on DirectionFreeNews undergoes editorial review by our editorial team. Our editors research publicly available information from multiple trusted news organizations, compare differing perspectives, verify key facts, and publish balanced summaries intended to help readers better understand important events. Our editorial process is designed to reduce editorial bias by considering multiple reputable sources rather than relying on a single viewpoint

A recent study in Singapore has found that a mother's mental health during pregnancy may influence her child's risk of developing depressive symptoms years later. Researchers analyzed data from 523 mother-child pairs in the GUSTO (Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes) birth cohort. They discovered that positive maternal mental health, characterized by well-being and resilience, was associated with stronger language development and fewer depressive symptoms in children. However, scientists emphasized that maternal mental health does not solely determine a child's outcome. Dr. Huang Pei, senior scientist at the A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential, highlighted the various stressors that mothers face during pregnancy and their potential impact on child development.