# Association Between Infant-Mother Room-Sharing and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression: A Population-Based Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that room-sharing between mothers and infants is linked to higher postpartum depression symptoms, especially among women with higher socioeconomic status.

## Contribution

The study provides population-based evidence that infant-mother room-sharing is associated with increased postpartum depression symptoms.

## Key findings

- Room-sharing was associated with higher odds of postpartum depression symptoms.
- The association was significant only among married, educated, privately insured mothers without WIC assistance.
- The relationship persisted after adjusting for maternal and infant factors.

## Abstract

This study aimed to (1) examine the relationship between infant-mother room-sharing and postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms and (2) determine whether the relationship between infant-mother room-sharing and PPD symptoms varies by other maternal or infant characteristics.

This cross-sectional study utilized de-identified secondary data from the 2016-2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) (N=105,144). Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the characteristics of the study sample. Rao-Scott chi-square tests were used to examine differences in PPD symptoms and infant-mother room-sharing by maternal and infant characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the independent association between infant sleeping arrangements and PPD symptoms. Pairwise interaction between infant sleeping arrangement and each covariate were included in the regression model, and stratified analyses were performed for variables with significant pairwise interactions.

The prevalence of PPD symptoms was 11.7%, and 79.5% reported that their infant sleeps in the same room. Significant pairwise interactions were found between infant-mother room-sharing and marital status, education, insurance, and receipt of WIC food assistance on PPD symptoms. The odds of having PPD symptoms were higher in those whose infants shared the same room compared to those whose infants slept in a different room. However, the observed association was present only in the subgroups of participants who were married, had greater than a high school level of education, had private insurance, and did not receive WIC food assistance during pregnancy.

Findings suggest that infant-mother room-sharing is independently associated with increased odds of PPD symptoms.

Infant-mother room-sharing has previously been correlated with poor sleep quality, and the literature reports a well-established relationship between poor sleep and depressive symptoms. Room-sharing between mother and infant has been proposed to impact maternal postpartum depression symptoms, but population-based research on this subject is lacking. After adjustment for maternal demographic, social, and health factors, as well as infant characteristics, mothers who room-shared with their infants were more likely to report postpartum depression symptoms. This relationship was limited to women of higher socioeconomic standing. This suggests infant-mother room-sharing may be associated with symptoms of postpartum depression.