Prenatal Psychological Distress Research Articles

Prenatal stress and externalizing behaviors in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Accumulating evidence suggests that psychological distress during pregnancy is linked to offspring risk for externalizing outcomes (e.g., reactive/aggressive behaviors, hyperactivity, and impulsivity). Effect sizes across studies have varied widely, however, due to differences in study design and methodology, including control for the confounding continuation of distress in the postnatal period. Clarifying these inconsistencies is necessary to guide the precision of prevention efforts and inform public health policies. A meta-analysis was conducted with 55 longitudinal studies to investigate the association between prenatal psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and perceived stress) and offspring externalizing behaviors. Results revealed a significant but small effect (r = .160) of prenatal distress on externalizing behaviors. The magnitude of the prenatal effect size remained largely unchanged after adjusting for postnatal distress (r = .159), implicating a unique effect of psychological distress during the prenatal period in the etiology of externalizing behaviors. Moderation tests showed that prenatal effects did not vary based on type and timing of psychological distress during pregnancy. Greater instability of distress from prenatal to postnatal periods predicted larger effects. Prenatal effects were comparable across most externalizing outcomes, consistent with the common comorbidity of externalizing spectrum disorders, although effects appeared smaller for nonaggressive rule-breaking (vs. aggressive) behaviors. Significant associations persisted across all developmental periods, appearing slightly larger in early childhood. We discuss these results in the context of developmental and psychobiological theories of externalizing behavior, offer preliminary clinical and public health implications, and highlight directions for future research including the need for longitudinal studies with more racially and socioeconomically diverse families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Regulatory T-cell phenotypes in prenatal psychological distress

BackgroundExperiencing symptoms of psychological distress during pregnancy is common and has been linked to dysregulated immune functioning. In this context, immunoregulatory function is especially relevant because of its crucial role in establishment and maintenance of healthy pregnancy. However, little research has examined associations between women’s prenatal psychological distress and immunoregulatory biomarkers. We investigated how symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress relate to circulating levels of regulatory T-cells (Tregs). Materials and methodsPregnant Latina women were assessed at around 12 weeks of pregnancy (N = 82). These assessments included blood draws and self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression, state anxiety, pregnancy-related anxiety, and perceived stress. Flow cytometry on PBMCs was used to quantify circulating Tregs, defined as CD3+CD4+CD25hiCD127loFoxP3+, and subpopulations positive for one of the following intra- or extracellular markers, CD45RA, CTLA-4, Helios, PD-1, TIM-3, and TIGIT. We collected 82 samples at 12 weeks. Multivariable linear regressions tested for associations between symptoms of psychological distress and Treg concentrations, adjusted for gestational age. ResultsState anxiety symptoms at 12 weeks were negatively associated with parent Treg cell levels (b = −4.02, p = 0.023) and subpopulations Helios+ (b = −3.29, p = 0.019) and TIM3+ (b = −3.17, p = 0.008). Perceived stress was negatively associated with the PD-1+ subpopulation at 12 weeks (b = −4.02, p = 0.023). Depression was not related to Tregs or the subpopulations. ConclusionOur observation that symptoms of anxiety and stress are related to tolerogenic immunology suggests a possible biomechanism explaining correlations of maternal mood disorders with adverse outcomes for mothers and offspring.

Mothers’ prenatal distress accelerates adrenal pubertal development in daughters

Human life history schedules vary, partly, because of adaptive, plastic responses to early-life conditions. Little is known about how prenatal conditions relate to puberty timing. We hypothesized that fetal exposure to adversity may induce an adaptive response in offspring maturational tempo. In a longitudinal study of 253 mother-child dyads followed for 15 years, we investigated if fetal exposure to maternal psychological distress related to children’s adrenarche and gonadarche schedules, assessed by maternal and child report and by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, and estradiol levels. We found fetal exposure to elevated maternal prenatal psychological distress predicted earlier adrenarche and higher DHEA-S levels in girls, especially first-born girls, and that associations remained after covarying indices of postnatal adversity. No associations were observed for boys or for gonadarche in girls. Adrenarche orchestrates the social-behavioral transition from juvenility to adulthood; therefore, significant findings for adrenarche, but not gonadarche, suggest that prenatal maternal distress instigates an adaptive strategy in which daughters have earlier social-behavioral maturation. The stronger effect in first-borns suggests that, in adverse conditions, it is in the mother’s adaptive interest for her daughter to hasten social maturation, but not necessarily sexual maturation, because it would prolong the duration of the daughter allomothering younger siblings. We postulate a novel evolutionary framework that human mothers may calibrate the timing of first-born daughters’ maturation in a way that optimizes their own reproductive success.

Maternal grandmothers buffer the effects of ethnic discrimination among pregnant Latina mothers.

Ethnic discrimination during pregnancy is linked to maternal psychological distress, adverse birth outcomes and increased offspring morbidity and mortality. An evolutionary perspective reframes offspring health issues as a risk to maternal fitness. We argue that kin may be evolutionarily motivated to buffer psychosocial stressors for the mother during pregnancy. Previously, we found that the relationship of a pregnant woman with her own mother (fetus' maternal grandmother) had a positive association on maternal prenatal psychology, above and beyond her relationship with her fetus' father. Here, we ask if grandmothers buffer mothers' prenatal psychological distress from ethnic discrimination. Using self-report data collected from 216 pregnant Latina women living in Southern California, we found discrimination to be significantly, positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in linear regression models. Maternal grandmother communication attenuated the association of discrimination and all three psychological distress measures, adjusting for the mother's relationship with the father. Maternal grandmother emotional support similarly significantly moderated the relationship of discrimination with depression and anxiety. We did not observe any significant interactions for paternal grandmother relationships. Geographic proximity was not a significant stress buffer. Results suggest the important role maternal grandmothers play in perinatal mental health, and that these benefits exist uncoupled from geographic proximity.

Differential effects of prenatal psychological distress and positive mental health on offspring socioemotional development from infancy to adolescence: ameta-analysis.

The impact of prenatal maternal mental health on offspring socioemotional development is substantial and enduring. Existing literature primarily focuses on the effects of psychological distress during pregnancy, emphasizing adverse child outcomes. Recent studies, however, highlight the unique impact of positive maternal mental health on child outcomes. To elucidate the differential associations of maternal psychological distress and positive mental health during pregnancy with child outcomes, we conducted a systematic literature search and random-effects meta-analyses on studies investigating the associations of prenatal maternal mental health with child socioemotional development. Our analyses, comprising 74 studies with 321,966 mother-child dyads across 21 countries, revealed significant associations of prenatal psychological distress with both adverse and positive child socioemotional outcomes. Notably, the effect sizes for the association of psychological distress with positive child outcomes were smaller compared to adverse outcomes. Positive prenatal mental health, on the other hand, was significantly associated with positive socioemotional outcomes but not adverse outcomes. This meta-analysis highlights the independence of negative and positive prenatal mental health constructs and their distinct relationships with child socioemotional development. The findings underscore the importance of considering the positive spectrum of maternal mental health and developmental outcomes to enhance our understanding of prenatal influences on child development. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=335227, identifier CRD42022335227.

Investigating the association of prenatal psychological adversities with mother and child telomere length and neurodevelopment

BackgroundExposure to prenatal maternal psychological adversities can negatively affect the offspring's developing brain. Shortened telomere length (TL) has been implicated as a mechanism for the transgenerational effects of maternal psychological adversities on offspring. This study aimed to determine associations between prenatal psychological stressors and distress with maternal and early life TL, and associations between maternal, newborn and child TL with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age. MethodsFollow-up TL was measured in a subgroup of African mothers (n = 138) and their newborns (n = 142) and children (n = 96) at 2-years in the Drakenstein Child Health Study. Prenatal symptoms of depression, distress, intimate partner violence, posttraumatic stress-disorder and childhood trauma were measured at 27 weeks gestation. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 2 years using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III. TLs were measured in whole bloods from mothers and their children at 2-years, and cord bloods in newborns. ResultsMaternal prenatal stressors and distress were not significantly associated with TL in mothers or their children at birth or at 2-years. Furthermore, maternal psychological measures were not associated with early-life attrition of TL. Longer TL in children at 2-years was associated (p = 0.04) with higher motor functioning. LimitationsLimited numbers of participants and single time-point psychological measures. ConclusionsThis study is the first to provide information on the association of early life TL with prenatal psychological adversities and neurodevelopmental outcomes in a population of low-income African mothers and their children.

Pathways between Risk/Protective Factors and Maternal Postnatal Depressive Symptoms: The ELFE Cohort.

The risk factors for postnatal depressive symptoms (PNDS) are numerous, but little is known about the protective factors or the interactions between different exposures. The present study explored the pathways between maternal, infant and parenthood vulnerabilities or risk/protective factors and PNDS at 2 months postpartum (PP) in a large sample of women from the general population. We used data from the French ELFE cohort, a nationally representative cohort of children followed-up from birth. The available information about vulnerabilities or risk/protective factors for PNDS was collected during the maternity ward stay (mother or medical records) and at 2 months PP (mother by phone). PNDS were evaluated with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 2 months. A measurement model was built based on the psychosocial model for PNDS of Milgrom and colleagues using exploratory factor analysis. The Structural Equation Model was used to investigate the pathways between vulnerability, risk/protective factors and PNDS at 2 months PP. In the study sample (n = 11,583), a lack of a partner's perceived antenatal emotional support, consultation with a mental health specialist before pregnancy, family financial difficulties, prenatal psychological distress and a difficult pregnancy experience were directly associated with the severity of maternal PNDS at 2 months PP, as well as lack of perceived postnatal support. Family financial difficulties and consultation with a mental health specialist before pregnancy were also indirectly associated with the intensity of PNDS through a lack of perceived antenatal emotional support, a difficult pregnancy experience, prenatal psychological distress and a lack of perceived postnatal support. Regarding infant and parenthood characteristics, infant self-regulation difficulties, maternal difficulty in understanding infant crying and infant hospitalisation were directly associated with PNDS severity at 2 months PP, while maternal difficulty in understanding an infant's cries was also indirectly associated with infant self-regulation difficulties. Perinatal professional support should begin antenatally and target the couple's prenatal functioning, with particular attention to women presenting a history of psychiatric disorders, especially those of low socioeconomic status. After delivery, addressing infant and parenthood characteristics is also recommended.

Impact of sedentary behavior and emotional support on prenatal psychological distress and birth outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Studies have reported mixed findings regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnant women and birth outcomes. This study used a quasi-experimental design to account for potential confounding by sociodemographic characteristics. Data were drawn from 16 prenatal cohorts participating in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. Women exposed to the pandemic (delivered between 12 March 2020 and 30 May 2021) (n = 501) were propensity-score matched on maternal age, race and ethnicity, and child assigned sex at birth with 501 women who delivered before 11 March 2020. Participants reported on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, sedentary behavior, and emotional support during pregnancy. Infant gestational age (GA) at birth and birthweight were gathered from medical record abstraction or maternal report. After adjusting for propensity matching and covariates (maternal education, public assistance, employment status, prepregnancy body mass index), results showed a small effect of pandemic exposure on shorter GA at birth, but no effect on birthweight adjusted for GA. Women who were pregnant during the pandemic reported higher levels of prenatal stress and depressive symptoms, but neither mediated the association between pandemic exposure and GA. Sedentary behavior and emotional support were each associated with prenatal stress and depressive symptoms in opposite directions, but no moderation effects were revealed. There was no strong evidence for an association between pandemic exposure and adverse birth outcomes. Furthermore, results highlight the importance of reducing maternal sedentary behavior and encouraging emotional support for optimizing maternal health regardless of pandemic conditions.

Maternal prenatal psychological distress and motor/cognitive development in two-year-old offspring: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Maternal prenatal psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, may affect offspring's motor/cognitive development. However, research findings have been inconsistent. We used a dataset from the Japan Environment and Children's Study to evaluate associations between maternal six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) scores and motor/cognitive development among offspring at two years of age. Their offspring's motor/cognitive development was assessed using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development 2001. Records for 1859 male and 1817 female offspring were analyzed. The maternal K6 was administered twice during pregnancy: at a median of 14.6 weeks (M-T1) and 27.3 weeks (M-T2) of gestation. Multiple regression analysis was performed with the group with K6 scores ≤4 at both M-T1 and M-T2 as a reference. In the group with K6 scores ≥5 at both M-T1 and M-T2, male offspring had significantly lower developmental quotients (DQ) in the posture-motor area (partial regression coefficient [B]: -3.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.92 to -1.44) and language-social area (B: -1.93; 95%CI: -3.73 to -0.12), while female offspring had a lower DQ for the language-social area (B: -1.95; 95%CI: -3.73 to -0.17). In those with K6 scores ≥5 only at M-T1 or M-T2, male and female offspring did not differ significantly in DQ for any area. Continuous maternal psychological distress from the first to the second half of pregnancy was associated with lower motor and verbal cognitive development in male offspring and lower verbal cognitive development in female offspring at 2 years compared with the group without persistent maternal prenatal psychological distress.

Maternal postnatal bonding disorder and emotional/behavioral problems in preschool children: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study

BackgroundAlthough there is evidence that maternal perinatal mental disorders are associated with emotional/behavioral problems in children, the long-term impacts of postnatal bonding disorder remain unclear. We aimed to examine the associations between maternal postnatal bonding disorder and emotional/behavioral problems in preschool children. MethodsWe analyzed data from 7220 mother–child pairs who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. Maternal bonding disorder was defined as Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale score ≥5 at 1 month after delivery. The Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½–5 was used to assess emotional/behavioral problems, and its subscales were used to assess internalizing and externalizing problems in children at 4 years of age. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations of postnatal bonding disorder with emotional/behavioral, internalizing, and externalizing problems after adjustment for age, education, income, parity, prenatal psychological distress, postnatal depressive symptoms, child's sex, preterm birth, and birth defects. ResultsThe prevalence of postnatal bonding disorder was 14.8 %. Postnatal bonding disorder was associated with an increased risk of emotional/behavioral problems in children: the odds ratio (OR) was 2.06 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.72–2.46). Postnatal bonding disorder was also associated with increased risks of internalizing problems and externalizing problems in children: the ORs were 1.69 (95 % CI, 1.42–2.02) and 1.90 (95 % CI, 1.59–2.26), respectively. LimitationsBonding and problems were self-reported. ConclusionsBonding disorder at 1 month after delivery was associated with an increased risk of emotional/behavioral problems in children at 4 years of age.

Utility of the edinburgh postnatal depression scale for identifying prenatal psychological distress in black women

Exposure to stress during pregnancy, including depression, is a significant concern due to its harmful effects on maternal health and infant developmental outcomes. Black populations face other stress-related experiences that contribute to risk factors in pregnancy outcomes in addition to depression. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is one of many screeners of perinatal depression and its use is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. However, screening pregnant women for depression has been deployed without a comprehensive examination of its utility for capturing an individual’s stress.

Associations among fear of childbirth, resilience and psychological distress in pregnant women: A response surface analysis and moderated mediation model.

Prenatal psychological distress is prevalent during pregnancy. This study aimed to estimate the associations among fear of childbirth, resilience and psychological distress. A total of 1,060 Chinese pregnant women were enrolled from Be Resilient to Postpartum Depression (ChiCTR2100048465) and the following instruments were administered to them: Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Adverse Childhood Experience scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A dominance, a response surface analysis and a moderated mediation analysis were performed. In terms of psychological distress, resilience and fear of childbirth could explain 41.6% (0.148/0.356) and 33.1% (0.118/0.356), respectively. Pregnant women with high resilience-low fear of childbirth had significantly lower levels of psychological distress than those with low resilience-high fear of childbirth. The indirect effects of fear of childbirth on psychological distress through resilience was significantly (B = 0.054, 95% CI 0.038 to 0.070). The interactions between fear of childbirth and adverse childhood experiences (β = 0.114, 95% CI -0.002 to 0.231, p = 0.054) and between resilience and adverse childhood experiences (β = -0.118, 95% CI -0.222 to -0.012, p < 0.05) were significant. Resilience, fear of childbirth and adverse childhood experiences may be three important factors to psychological distress in Chinese pregnant women.

Maternal distress, DNA methylation, and fetal programing of stress physiology in Brazilian mother-infant pairs.

Maternal prenatal psychosocial stress is associated with adverse hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) function among infants. Although the biological mechanisms influencing this process remain unknown, altered DNA methylation is considered to be one potential mechanism. We investigated associations between maternal prenatal psychological distress, infant salivary DNA methylation, and stress physiology at 12 months. Mother's distress was measured via depression and anxiety in early and late pregnancy in a cohort of 80 pregnant adolescents. Maternal hair cortisol was collected during pregnancy. Saliva samples were collected from infants at 12 months to quantify DNA methylation of three stress-related genes (FKBP5, NR3C1, OXTR) (n=62) and diurnal cortisol (n=29). Multivariable linear regression was used to test for associations between prenatal psychological distress, and infant DNA methylation and cortisol. Hair cortisol concentrations in late pregnancy were negatively associated with two sites of FKBP5 (site 1: B=-22.33, p=.003; site 2: B=-15.60, p=.012). Infants of mothers with elevated anxiety symptoms in late pregnancy had lower levels of OXTR2 CpG2 methylation (B=-2.17, p=.03) and higher evening salivary cortisol (B=0.41, p=.03). Furthermore, OXTR2 methylation was inversely associated with evening cortisol (B=-0.14, p-value≤.001). Our results are, to our knowledge, the first evidence that the methylation of the oxytocin receptor may contribute to the regulation of HPAA during infancy.

Effects of a maternal mindfulness intervention targeting prenatal psychological distress on infants’ meconium microbiota: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundMaternal psychological distress could affect gut microbiota of the infant; however, previous studies to date have been observational. ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) during pregnancy on the meconium microbiota of infants by alleviating maternal psychological distress. DesignRandomized controlled trial. MethodPregnant women with symptoms of depression or anxiety were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 80), comprising usual perinatal care and six digitally guided self-help MBI sessions, or the control group (n = 80) who underwent usual perinatal care. Meconium was collected within 48 h of birth to evaluate the infant's gut microbiota. The Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test, analysis of similarities, and DESeq2 were performed to explore the effects of the MBI on alpha and beta diversity indices and specific genera. ResultsThere were no significant differences between groups regarding the alpha diversity indices, including Chao1 and Simpson (p = 0.83 and p = 0.58). However, there was a significant between-group difference in the beta diversity index (R=0.02, p = 0.03). Bifidobacterium (log2 fold change=−1.90, FDR=0.002) and Blautia (log2 fold change=−1.45, FDR=0.01) were abundant in the intervention group, whereas Staphylococcus (log2 fold change=1.44, FDR=0.01) was abundant in the control group. ConclusionsMBI aimed at alleviating maternal psychological distress can positively alter the meconium microbiota of infants. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal mindfulness during pregnancy on infant meconium microbiota require further exploration.

Association between maternal prenatal psychological distress and autism spectrum disorder among 3-year-old children: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Maternal prenatal psychological distress, which includes depression and anxiety, affects the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is no consistent knowledge regarding at which term during pregnancy psychological distress affects the risk of ASD among children. We used a dataset obtained from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which is a nationwide prospective birth cohort study, to evaluate the association between the six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) and ASD among 3-year-old children. A total of 78,745 children were analyzed, and 355 of them were diagnosed with ASD (0.45%). The maternal K6 was administered twice during pregnancy: at a median of 15.1 weeks (M-T1) and at that of 27.4 weeks (M-T2) of gestation. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the group with a maternal K6 score of ≥5 at both M-T1 and M-T2 was significantly associated with ASD among the children (adjusted odds ratio, 1.440; 95% confidence interval, 1.104-1.877) compared to the group with a score of ≤4 at both M-T1 and M-T2. There was no significant difference between the group with a score of ≥5 only at M-T1 or M-T2 and that with a score of ≤4 at both M-T1 and M-T2. In conclusion, from the first to the second half of pregnancy, continuous maternal psychological distress was associated with ASD among 3-year-old children. Contrarily, in the group without persistent maternal psychological distress during pregnancy, there was no significant association.

Factors Related to Psychological Distress in Multiparous Women in the First Trimester: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The birth rate in Taiwan has declined rapidly; thus, encouraging women to give birth is an important issue in the country. Pregnant women may experience psychological distress, which may negatively impact the health of children and mothers. Prenatal psychological distress is more common in multiparous women than in primiparous women. In addition, compared with that in the second and third trimesters, psychological distress in the first trimester is relatively high. Understanding psychological distress and the associated factors for multiparous women in the first trimester is important to providing early interventions and preventing subsequent maternal and child health problems. This study was designed to examine the important predictive factors related to depression, anxiety, and stress among Taiwanese multiparous women in the first trimester. A cross-sectional design was used. In all, 216 multiparous women at 16 weeks of pregnancy were recruited from three hospitals in Taiwan. Self-reported questionnaires were used to gather data on demographic characteristics, the parenting stress of motherhood, spousal support, and psychological distress. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with psychological distress. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in multiparous women was found to be 31.9%, 42.6%, and 11.1%, respectively. The multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the stress related to parent-child interaction was a significant predictor of depression and anxiety, the stress related to child-rearing was a significant predictor of anxiety, and low spousal instrumental support was a significant predictor of stress. The model respectively explained 30%, 27%, and 23% of the variance in depression, anxiety, and stress. Reducing the stress related to parent-child interaction and child-rearing and encouraging spousal instrumental support should be considered during prenatal care when designing interventions to reduce the psychological distress of multiparous women in their first trimester.

Prenatal paternal depression, anxiety, and somatic symptom burden in different risk samples: an explorative study

PurposeGrowing evidence implies that transition to parenthood triggers symptoms of mental burden not only in women but likewise in men, especially in high-risk pregnancies. This is the first study that examined and compared the prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptom burden of expectant fathers who face different risk situations during pregnancy.MethodsPrevalence rates of paternal depression (Edinburgh postnatal depression scale), anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder seven), and somatic symptom burden (somatic symptom scale eight) were examined in two risk samples and one control group in the third trimester of their partners’ pregnancy: risk sample I (n = 41) consist of expectant fathers whose partners were prenatally hospitalized due to medical complications; risk sample II (n = 52) are fathers whose partners were prenatally mentally distressed; and control group (n = 70) are those non-risk pregnancies.ResultsOn a purely descriptive level, the data display a trend of higher symptom burden of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in the two risk samples, indicating that expectant fathers, whose pregnant partners were hospitalized or suffered prenatal depression, were more prenatally distressed. Exploratory testing of group differences revealed an almost three times higher prevalence rate of anxiety in fathers whose partner was hospitalized (12.2%) compared to those non-risks (4.3%).ConclusionResults underline the need for screening implementations for paternal prenatal psychological distress, as well as specific prevention and treatment programs, especially for fathers in risk situations, such as their pregnant partners’ prenatal hospitalization.The study was registered with the German clinical trials register (DRKS00020131) on 2019/12/09.

Maternal prenatal psychological distress and vitamin intake with children's neurocognitive development.

Maternal prenatal psychological distress (PPD) is increasingly linked to sub-optimal child neurodevelopment. Daily intake of prenatal vitamin during pre-conception and early pregnancy may ameliorate the effects of PPD on cognition in the offspring. PPD was assessed in early (12-16 weeks) and late (28-32 weeks) gestation in the Ontario Birth Study. Prenatal vitamin supplement intake information was collected in early gestation. Child cognition at 4 years was assessed using the NIH Toolbox. Poisson regression was used to investigate associations between PPD and/or prenatal vitamin intake and child cognition. Four hundred and eighteen mother-child dyads were assessed. Moderate-severe PPD experienced during early gestation was associated with reduced cognition (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRRadj) = 3.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-8.77, P = 0.003). Daily intake of prenatal vitamins was not associated with cognition (IRRadj = 1.34, 95% CI: 0.73-2.46, P = 0.34). Upon stratification, the experience of mild-severe PPD with daily intake of prenatal vitamins was associated with higher incident rates of suboptimal cognition compared to children of women with daily prenatal vitamin intake without any episode of PPD (IRRadj = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.1-7.4). Moderate-severe PPD in early pregnancy is associated with poor cognition in children and daily intake of prenatal vitamin did not ameliorate this association. Our findings expand on existing literature by highlighting that exposure to prenatal psychological distress (PPD), in moderate-to-severe form, in the early stages of pregnancy, can have detrimental effects on the offspring's cognitive development at 4 years. Overall, prenatal vitamin intake did not ameliorate the effects of PPD. Early screening and treatment of prenatal maternal mental illness is crucial.

Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19: Health Impact and Clinical Findings

Besides its high mortality rates, COVID-19 disease has dramatic psychosocial and psychological effects worldwide. There are significant reports of mental issues, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and financial difficulties, and the effects continue to persist months after recovery [1]. The disease itself multipliedgic by many other problems like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, change in behaviors. All these have a significant impact on their lives [1]. It also has adverse effects on pregnancy. COVID-19 has affected the mother as well as the child’s health. There are many panic and anxiety issues. Many deaths were not even reported. Coronavirus pandemic has led to many health and mental illnesses. Many lockdowns led to financial difficulties and problems in the present and future.&#x0D; Long-term neuropsychiatric effects may be caused by more than only the massive psychological trauma suffered during the outbreak.&#x0D; Poor developmental outcomes in offspring have been associated with prenatal psychological distress, including abnormalities in brain development 4, 7, and worse socio-emotional and cognitive development.&#x0D; This article tends to define the psychosocial (psychosocial remove) impact of COVID-19 on students, health workers, pregnant women, how their lives and mental health are affected worldwide. COVID-19 affected the workplace. Stress throughout pregnancy and early life has been linked to cancer lately. It has affected many lives in agricultural areas, economic-financial losses. Current reports put forward feasible passing on vertical coronavirus, although longitudinal studies offspring are needed. The paternal infection on the offspring and generational upshot can be contemplated.

Maternal prenatal psychological distress associates with offspring early-life wheezing - FinnBrain Birth Cohort.

BackgroundExposure to prenatal maternal psychological distress may contribute to the development of childhood atopic disorders. Little is known about the importance of distress severity and its duration for the risk. Our aim was to investigate how chronic maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms across gestation influence the risk of wheezing and eczema at child age 24 months.MethodsThe study population was drawn from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, including 1305 mother‐infant dyads followed across gestation until the child age of 24 months when the outcomes were mother‐reported wheezing ever and doctor‐diagnosed eczema. To investigate the risk of wheezing phenotypes, wheezing with and without eczema was separated. Maternal distress was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for depressive and the Symptom Checklist‐90 for anxiety symptoms three times during pregnancy, and the chronicity was demonstrated using symptom trajectories composed by latent growth mixture modeling.ResultsOf the children, 219/1305 (17%) had wheezing ever and 285/1276 (22%) had eczema. Risk of wheezing ever was elevated with maternal consistently high depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio 2.74; 95% confidence interval 1.37–5.50) or moderate and increasing anxiety symptoms (1.94; 1.06–3.54, respectively). Similarly, wheezing without eczema was associated with consistently high depressive (3.60; 1.63–7.94, respectively) and moderate and increasing anxiety symptoms (2.43; 1.21–4.91, respectively).ConclusionsMaternal chronic psychological distress across gestation was associated with toddler wheezing and especially wheezing without other atopic features (eczema). This finding supports the theory of intrauterine programming effect by maternal psychological distress on offspring immune system and respiratory morbidity.