Maternal Perinatal Mental Health and Socioemotional Development in School-Aged Children: A Directed Narrative Review and Nursing Implications

Maternal depression and anxiety during the perinatal period are important public health concerns that may have lasting implications for children’s socioemotional development. This directed narrative review examines associations between maternal perinatal mental health conditions and socioemotional outcomes in children aged 6–12 years. The review synthesizes 15 primary studies, primarily longitudinal cohort studies, selected from 20 reference documents. Persistent depressive and anxiety symptoms spanning pregnancy and the postpartum period were associated with an increased risk of externalizing behavioral problems. One included study reported an association with oppositional defiant disorder (OR = 2.38, 95% CI [1.55, 3.64]). The reviewed literature also linked persistent maternal symptoms with internalizing problems and difficulties in children’s emotional regulation. Proposed pathways include alterations in fetal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis development, changes in placental stress-regulation mechanisms, epigenetic processes involving NR3C1, and disruptions in early mother–infant interaction. Maternal warmth and active paternal involvement were identified as potential protective factors. These findings support an integrated approach to care that connects perinatal mental health screening and follow-up with ongoing assessment of child development. Nurses may contribute by facilitating appropriate screening, monitoring persistent symptoms, and coordinating referrals and developmental support through antenatal, primary-care, and school-health services. As a narrative review, the findings should be interpreted in light of the review’s selection and synthesis methods.