Maternal Prenatal Depression Linked to Eczema Risk in Offspring: Study

A new study published in the Frontiers in Pediatrics revealed that maternal depression or anxiety during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of eczema or atopic dermatitis (AD) in children.

The study systematically reviewed existing research to clarify whether prenatal exposure to maternal anxiety or depression increases the likelihood of eczema or AD in offspring. This research was conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, covering all eligible studies published up to July 2025. Only cohort studies were included, and maternal anxiety and depression were defined as either physician-diagnosed conditions or identified using standardized psychological assessment scales during pregnancy.

In total, 12 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. When results were pooled, the analysis showed a modest but statistically significant association between maternal mental health conditions and childhood skin disease. Maternal depression during pregnancy was associated with a 6% increase in the odds of offspring developing eczema or AD, while maternal anxiety was linked to an 11% increase.

For maternal anxiety, subgroup analysis showed a clearer association with atopic dermatitis than with eczema alone. Children of mothers who experienced anxiety during pregnancy had a 24% higher risk of developing AD, while the link with eczema by itself was not statistically significant. This suggests that anxiety may be more strongly tied to chronic, immune-mediated skin inflammation rather than transient skin symptoms.

The elevated risks in both Eastern and Western countries, though the magnitude differed. For anxiety-related exposure, increased incidence of eczema or AD was observed across regions, with slightly higher odds reported in Western countries. Timing of exposure was another key factor, where maternal anxiety identified in the first or second trimester was associated with higher rates of eczema or AD in children, while anxiety in the third trimester showed no significant effect.

Depression during pregnancy was significantly associated with a higher incidence of atopic dermatitis in offspring, but not eczema alone. Regionally, this association was evident in Eastern countries, whereas studies from Western countries did not show a statistically significant difference.

Timing analysis indicated that depression during the second trimester posed the greatest risk, while third-trimester exposure again showed no clear association. Overall, the findings point to pregnancy as a sensitive window during which maternal psychological well-being may influence immune and skin development in the fetus. 

Reference:

Yu, M., Zhang, Q., Chen, J., Yang, J., Bai, Z., & Wang, J. (2025). Association between maternal anxiety/depression in pregnancy and the development of offspring eczema/AD: a meta-analysis based on cohort studies. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 13(1734662), 1734662. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2025.1734662