Postpartum Depression Linked to Nearly Triple Infant Mortality Risk

A retrospective analysis of 414,890 singleton births in New Jersey between 2016 and 2020 found that infants born to mothers who screened positive for postpartum depressive symptoms faced almost three times the risk of dying before their first birthday compared with infants of mothers without such symptoms. The study, published in *JAMA Network Open* in 2026, identified 906 infant deaths during the follow-up period.

Newsweek

Researchers used the statewide postpartum screening program’s Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, classifying scores of 10 or higher as indicative of depressive symptoms. Among infants of mothers with depressive symptoms, the mortality rate was 7.2 deaths per 1,000 births; for infants of mothers without symptoms, the rate was 2.0 per 1,000. After adjusting for maternal age, race and ethnicity, education, insurance status, and infant characteristics, the adjusted relative risk was 2.89. Elevated risks persisted across demographic groups and regardless of preterm birth status. Specific cause-specific analyses showed more than a fourfold increase in deaths linked to prematurity-related conditions and nearly a fivefold increase in deaths associated with perinatal conditions, with additional heightened risks for congenital abnormalities and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Newsweek

Rebecca Woofter, a postdoctoral associate at the Rutgers School of Public Health and lead author, emphasized that the association does not prove causality but underscores a strong link between maternal mental health and infant outcomes. She suggested that physiological changes during pregnancy, as well as broader social determinants such as health-care access, stable employment, and safe neighborhoods, could contribute to the observed relationship. Woofter recommended that mothers experiencing depressive symptoms discuss them with health-care providers—such as OB-GYNs—who can facilitate referrals to mental-health services. She also noted that organizations like Postpartum Support International can help families locate community resources.

Newsweek

Perinatal depression is the most common maternal morbidity, affecting up to one in five mothers during pregnancy or after childbirth. The study’s findings highlight maternal mental health as a public-health priority, suggesting that systematic screening and timely intervention could potentially reduce infant mortality. Future research that follows women before, during, and after pregnancy may clarify causal pathways and inform policies aimed at improving both maternal and infant health.

Newsweek