Maternal depression trajectories and child executive function over 9 years

•We identified maternal depression trajectories from pregnancy to 2 year after childbirth.•Maternal depression in early childhood was found to have prominent effects on child behavioral problem and executive function over 9 years into middle childhood.•The trjacetory of maternal depression trajectories was divided into three groups: no symptom (n = 503), mild symptom (n = 558), and moderate symptom (n = 130). The present study aimed to assess the relationship between maternal depression trajectories from pregnancy to 2 years after childbirth and childhood behavioral problems and executive function at 9 years. Data of mother-child pairs (N = 1191) extracted from the Panel Study on Korean Children (a cohort study) were used. Maternal depression was assessed using the Kessler depression scale during pregnancy and at 6 months, 1 years, and 2 years postpartum. At ages 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 years, the children's behavioral outcomes were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist. The children's executive function was assessed using the Executive Function Difficulty Screening Questionnaire at ages 7, 8, and 9 years. We performed a latent profile analysis to identify maternal depression trajectories and compared the children's behavioral problems and executive function among different trajectories. According to maternal depression trajectory, the mother-child pairs were divided into the no symptom (n = 503), mild symptom (n = 558), and moderate symptom (n = 130) groups. Children of mothers with significant depressive symptoms had severe behavioral problems at ages 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 years. Moreover, compared with children whose mothers were not depressed, those whose mothers had mild or moderate symptoms had impaired executive function at ages 7, 8, and 9 years. Maternal depression up to 2 years after childbirth affects childhood behavior and executive function into middle childhood.