Bladder symptoms are common during childhood and often improve as children grow. A recent study examined whether symptoms of depression in mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth were associated with bladder problems in their school-age daughters.

What Did the Researchers Study?

Researchers analyzed information from a large birth study in the United Kingdom. The final analysis included nearly 5,000 mother-daughter pairs.

Mothers completed depression screening questionnaires during pregnancy and again about 21 months after giving birth. Parents later reported whether their daughters experienced bladder symptoms at ages 6, 7, and 9, including:

  • A sudden, difficult-to-control need to urinate
  • Waking during the night to use the bathroom
  • Daytime wetting
  • Bedwetting

The study looked at whether the mother screened positive for depression during pregnancy, after childbirth, during both periods, or during neither period.

What Did the Study Find?

Girls whose mothers screened positive for depression both during pregnancy and after childbirth were more likely to have bladder symptoms than girls whose mothers did not screen positive.

The strongest and most consistent findings involved:

  • Urinary urgency: Girls were more likely to need to rush to the bathroom at ages 6, 7, and 9.
  • Nighttime urination: Girls were more likely to wake at least once during the night to urinate at all three ages.
  • Daytime wetting and bedwetting: These were more likely at ages 6 and 7.

In general, the associations became weaker as the girls grew older. When depression symptoms occurred only during pregnancy or only after childbirth, the findings were less consistent.

Does Maternal Depression Cause Bladder Problems?

No cause-and-effect relationship was proven.

This was an observational study, meaning researchers identified a link but could not show that maternal depression directly caused the daughters’ bladder symptoms. Depression was also measured with a screening questionnaire rather than a clinical diagnosis. Most participants were White families from one region of England, and the original information was collected beginning in the early 1990s, so the results may not apply equally to every family today.

The researchers do not yet know why the association exists. Possible explanations may involve a combination of biological development, shared genetics, family circumstances, stress, and the environment surrounding early development and toilet training. More research is needed.

Most importantly, these findings should not be interpreted as blame. Depression is a medical condition, and many factors can contribute to childhood bladder symptoms.

What Does This Mean for Families?

The study suggests that healthcare professionals caring for children with urinary urgency, nighttime urination, or wetting may benefit from considering the health and support needs of the whole family.

Mothers experiencing depression may also benefit from additional help during toilet training and other demanding stages of early childhood. The researchers emphasized continued screening and treatment for depression during pregnancy and in the years after childbirth.

For parents, the main message is that bladder symptoms are not a child’s fault, and they should not be treated with shame or punishment. Families can discuss persistent or concerning symptoms with their child’s pediatrician or urology provider.

This article summarizes “Association Between Maternal Depression and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Their Primary School-Age Daughters: A Birth Cohort Study,” published in the January/February 2024 issue of the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing.

Patient information is educational and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.