Transitioning into multidimensional household poverty and child general and maternal depressive symptomatology in Ireland: Findings from two Irish prospective cohorts

Background: This study investigated the association between transitioning into multidimensional-household-poverty (MHP) and child general and maternal depressive symptomatology. Methods: This study used two nationally representative longitudinal cohorts (Growing-Up-In-Ireland-study). The “child sample”(2008-cohort) included 7724 children and mothers recruited at 9-months (m) and 31.7-years (y) respectively and followed up when the child was aged 3, 5, 9, and 13 y. The “adolescent sample” (1998-cohort) included 7793 children and mothers recruited at 9 y and 39.9 y respectively, and followed up when the adolescent was aged 9, 13, 17/18 y, and 20 y. MHP exposure was obtained using latent-class-analysis (monetary, material, and subjective poverty variables) and categorised into never in MHP, transitioned into MHP, and persistent MHP. Using confounder-adjusted logistic regression models, we examined the association between MHP and child general and maternal depressive symptomatology. Results: In the child sample (9 m-to-9 y), 22.9 % (n = 1766) of households transitioned into MHP, and 6.7 % (n = 514) lived in persistent MHP. In the adolescent sample (9 y-to-17/18 y), 10.2 % (n = 791) of households transitioned into MHP, and 9.5 % (n = 734) lived in persistent MHP. In adjusted analyses, transitioning into MHP from 9 m-to-9 y was associated with higher child (aOR, 2.06 CI95%,1.49, 2.84) and maternal (aOR, 2.59, CI95%, 1.90, 3.53) symptomatology when child was 13 y. Transitioning into MHP from 9 y-to-17/18 y was associated with higher adolescent (aOR, 1.24, CI95%,1.00, 1.63) and maternal (aOR, 1.99, CI95%, 1.34, 2.95) symptomatology at 20 y. Being in persistent MHP was associated with higher prevalence of symptomatology. Conclusions: Though replication in other cohorts is warranted, findings suggest that transitioning into MHP is associated with a higher odds of child general and maternal depressive symptomatology.