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Maternal Mental Health and Its Influence on Children’s Early Development : Evidence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

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Listed:
  • Mahreen Tahir Chowdhry
  • Elizabeth Lauren Hentschel
  • Heather B. Tomlinson
  • Amna Ansari
  • Amer Hasan
  • Yousafzai,Aisha
  • Naveed Hussain

Abstract

This paper reports on the prevalence of three facets of mental health—depression, anxiety, and parenting stress—among mothers of children ages 0–6 years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data from mother-child dyads were analyzed to examine differences in maternal mental health and early childhood development outcomes by maternal educational attainment, urban versus rural setting, and refugee versus non-refugee status. The analysis finds a higher prevalence of self-reported mental health concerns among refugee, less-educated, and rural mothers relative to non-refugee, more-educated, and urban mothers. Maternal mental health concerns are significantly associated with lower levels of early childhood development. This paper also analyzes how exposure to stressors such as food insecurity, financial insecurity, being impacted by flooding, community crime, discrimination, and domestic violence exacerbate both maternal mental health and child outcomes. The regression analyses indicate a significant and negative compounding interaction of maternal depression, anxiety, and parenting stress on early childhood development for younger (0–3 years) and older (3–6 years) children, even after controlling for stressors and other covariates. Policy improvements are needed that focus on at-risk communities, providing mental health services and reducing exposure to stressors within communities and households.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahreen Tahir Chowdhry & Elizabeth Lauren Hentschel & Heather B. Tomlinson & Amna Ansari & Amer Hasan & Yousafzai,Aisha & Naveed Hussain, 2024. "Maternal Mental Health and Its Influence on Children’s Early Development : Evidence from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10975, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10975
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Livia Hazer & Gustaf Gredebäck, 2023. "The effects of war, displacement, and trauma on child development," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Rebecca Blackmore & Jacqueline A Boyle & Mina Fazel & Sanjeeva Ranasinha & Kylie M Gray & Grace Fitzgerald & Marie Misso & Melanie Gibson-Helm, 2020. "The prevalence of mental illness in refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(9), pages 1-24, September.
    3. Bauer, Annette & Knapp, Martin & Alvi, Mohsin & Chaudhry, Nasim & Gregoire, Alain & Malik, Abid & Sikander, Siham & Tayyaba, Kiran & Wagas, Ahmed & Husain, Nusrat, 2024. "Economic costs of perinatal depression and anxiety in a lower-middle income country: Pakistan," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122650, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Ahmed Waqas & Nahal Raza & Haneen Wajid Lodhi & Zerwah Muhammad & Mehak Jamal & Abdul Rehman, 2015. "Psychosocial Factors of Antenatal Anxiety and Depression in Pakistan: Is Social Support a Mediator?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, January.
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