Key Finding: Research findings suggest a correlation between children’s psychological problems and maternal distress (stress, anxiety, or depression) during pregnancy.
Combining data from over 55 studies with an aggregate of 45,000 participants, researchers discovered a link between maternal psychological distress during pregnancy and children’s externalizing behaviors. These behaviors include symptoms of ADHD and aggression, persisting into childhood and adolescence even after considering psychological distress after birth.
The research highlights the necessity of accessible mental health care during pregnancy to prevent childhood behavior problems.
Vital Details:
- Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy is linked to a heightened risk of children developing externalizing problems.
- The study included data from various age groups, with the strongest correlation observed in early childhood through middle childhood and adolescence.
- Future research aims to explore and address the role of diversity and cultural factors in prenatal stress, fostering equitable public health policies and interventions.
Source: APA
Children, whose mothers experience high stress, anxiety, or depression during pregnancy, may have a greater susceptibility to mental health and behavior issues during their childhood and adolescence, reveals a study published by the American Psychological Association.
Study author, Irene Tung, PhD, of California State University Dominguez Hills, stated, “Our research reveals that psychological distress during pregnancy has a subtle but enduring effect on children’s risk for aggressive, disinhibited, and impulsive behaviors.”
“The results underscore the importance of universally accessible mental health care and support during pregnancy to help prevent childhood behavior problems,” Tung added, quoting the published research in the journal Psychological Bulletin.
Analyzed data from 55 studies, comprising 45,000 participants, revealed the potential association between maternal anxiety, depression, and stress during pregnancy and an increased likelihood of children demonstrating more ADHD symptoms and exhibiting greater difficulties with aggressive or hostile behavior, as reported by parents or teachers.
The findings underline prior research linking mothers’ mental health during pregnancy to children’s externalizing behaviors. This study, however, demonstrated the impact of distress during pregnancy independent of parental well-being postpartum.
It’s suggested that even after adjusting for postnatal psychological distress, prenatal distress notably enhances children’s risk of developing externalizing problems.
The effect is consistent across genders and various developmental stages, showing its robust presence in early childhood but persisting into middle childhood and adolescence.
These results align with theories proposing that exposure to stress hormones in utero can influence children’s brain development. The researchers advocate for future studies to incorporate diverse cultural and socioeconomic variables affecting prenatal stress and establish effective interventions.
Tung highlighted the importance of understanding the impact of prenatal distress on underrepresented families to develop inclusive public health policies and interventions.
She and her team are engaging in research focusing on identifying supportive resources that promote resilience and recovery from prenatal stress and contribute to culturally inclusive preventive interventions during pregnancy.
About this mental health research news
Author: Lea Winerman
Source: APA
Contact: Lea Winerman – APA
Image: Credit to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Prenatal Stress and Externalizing Behaviors in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” by Irene Tung et al. Psychological Bulletin
