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Schwarze CE, von der Heiden S, Wallwiener S, Pauen S. The role of perinatal maternal symptoms of depression, anxiety and pregnancy-specific anxiety for infant's self-regulation: A prospective longitudinal study. J Affect Disord 2024; 346:144-153. [PMID: 37832733 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression are highly prevalent during pregnancy and postpartum and have the potential to impact fetal development and offspring behavior. However, research on the effects of fetal exposure to maternal subclinical affective symptoms on infant self-regulation is still lacking. Self-regulation provides a fundamental precondition for healthy development and overall life success whereas dysfunctional self-regulation can lead to behavioral problems, poor academic achievement, social rejection, and physical/mental disorders. During pregnancy and infancy, children largely depend upon their mothers in order to successfully regulate their internal states. Given the high prevalence of mothers suffering from anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy and after childbirth, the aim of the present study is to explore how maternal affective symptoms change during the pre- and postnatal period, and how measures obtained in pregnancy and beyond impact self-regulation in infants, as indicated by crying-, sleeping-, and/or feeding problems. METHODS This prospective longitudinal study investigates the effects of maternal symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pregnancy-specific anxiety on infant's self-regulation in N = 225 mother-infant dyads. Maternal affective symptoms were examined at five prenatal and three postnatal time-points using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire Revised (PRAQ-R2). Infant's self-regulation was assessed twice - at the age of three and six months - using the Crying Feeding Sleeping Scale (SFS). RESULTS Maternal pregnancy-specific anxiety was the most significant predictor for infant self-regulatory problems. It predicted crying-, sleeping, and feeding problems and explained up to 18 % of the variance. Even when controlling for maternal postpartum affective symptoms, pregnancy-specific anxiety remained a significant predictor for infant self-regulation problems. LIMITATIONS Rather homogenous sample (high socioeconomic status). Data based on maternal reports of infant behavior. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that fetal exposure to maternal affective symptoms - specifically pregnancy-related anxiety - plays a substantial role in the development of infant self-regulation problems, potentially mediated by epigenetic modifications. Importantly, even though maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety only reached subclinical levels, they were predictive for infant crying-, sleeping-, and feeding problems. Our findings underline the importance of early prevention and clearly tailored interventions during pregnancy and postpartum to prevent adverse outcome for mother, child and family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia E Schwarze
- Heidelberg University, Department of Psychology, Developmental and Biological Psychology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Sina von der Heiden
- Heidelberg University, Department of Psychology, Developmental and Biological Psychology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Wallwiener
- University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Heidelberg, Germany; University of Halle-Wittenberg, Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Halle, Germany
| | - Sabina Pauen
- Heidelberg University, Department of Psychology, Developmental and Biological Psychology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
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Mudra S, Göbel A, Möhler E, Stuhrmann LY, Schulte-Markwort M, Arck P, Hecher K, Diemert A. Behavioral Inhibition in the Second Year of Life Is Predicted by Prenatal Maternal Anxiety, Overprotective Parenting and Infant Temperament in Early Infancy. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:844291. [PMID: 35722567 PMCID: PMC9203734 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.844291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Behavioral inhibition, characterized by shyness, fear and avoidance of novel stimuli, has been linked with internalizing personality traits in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, and particularly later social anxiety disorder. Little is known about the relevance of potential prenatal precursors and early predictors for the development of inhibited behavior, such as infant vulnerability and family risk factors like parental anxiety and overprotection. Pregnancy-related anxiety has been associated with both infant temperament and maternal overprotective parenting. Thus, the aim of this study was investigating the predictive relevance of prenatal pregnancy-related anxiety for behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood, by considering the mediating role of maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty. Materials and Methods As part of a longitudinal pregnancy cohort, behavioral inhibition at 24 months postpartum was assessed in N = 170 mother-child pairs. Maternal pregnancy-related anxiety was examined in the third trimester of pregnancy, and maternal overprotection and infant distress to novelty at 12 months postpartum. Results Mediation analysis with two parallel mediators showed that the significant direct effect of pregnancy-related anxiety on child behavioral inhibition was fully mediated by infant distress to novelty p < 0.001 and maternal overprotection (p < 0.05). The included variables explained 26% of variance in behavioral inhibition. A subsequent explorative mediation analysis with serial mediators further showed a significant positive association between distress to novelty and maternal overprotective parenting (p < 0.05). Conclusion Results indicate a predictive relevance of both infant and maternal factors for the development of behavioral inhibition in toddlerhood. Mothers who perceived more pregnancy-related anxiety showed more overprotective parenting and had infants with more distress to novelty. Further, mothers being more overprotective reported their child to be more inhibited in toddlerhood. Our findings also indicate the stability of reported infant distress to novelty as one aspect of later behavioral inhibition. Addressing specific forms of parental anxiety from pregnancy on and in interaction with child-related variables seems to be a promising approach for future studies and clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Mudra
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ariane Göbel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eva Möhler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Saarland University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lydia Yao Stuhrmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schulte-Markwort
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Arck
- Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kurt Hecher
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Diemert
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Takegata M, Matsunaga A, Ohashi Y, Toizumi M, Yoshida LM, Kitamura T. Prenatal and Intrapartum Factors Associated With Infant Temperament: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:609020. [PMID: 33897486 PMCID: PMC8060501 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.609020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Temperament involves individual variations in behavioural tendencies of emotional responses and reactions to stimuli after birth. Because 'foetal programming' is a strong hypothesis in developing temperament, prenatal and intrapartum factors may be significant determinants of infant temperament. This systematic literature review aims to elucidate the evidence of prenatal and intrapartum predictors, including genetic, biological, environmental, socio-demographic, psychological, and obstetric factors of parents and their child. Methods: Relevant articles were searched using MEDLINE, PubMed, and SCOPUS. The inclusion criteria were (a) original research article, (b) written in English, (c) assessed the temperament of infants 12 months old or younger as an outcome variable, and (d) investigated prenatal and intrapartum factorial variables of infant temperament. Following the PRISMA guideline, the articles found in the three databases were screened and selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria before the final review. Results: Finally, 35 articles were reviewed. This systematic review identified a variety of prenatal and intrapartum factors that were significantly associated with infant temperament: (1) genetic and biological factors: certain genotypes, maternal cortisol and ACTH, and CRHs, (2) environmental factors: substance use such as tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs, (3) socio-demographic factor: lower-income, (4) psychological factors: depression or anxiety, eating disorders, personality types of mothers, and domestic violence, and (5) obstetric factors: foetal growth (birth weight), hypertension in mothers, nausea (emesis), and preterm birth. Conclusion: The findings support gene-environment interaction and biological mechanisms for developing infant temperament, suggesting the importance of ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for pregnant mothers, unborn infants, and families during pregnancy and delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Takegata
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.,Kitamura Institute of Mental Health Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Asami Matsunaga
- Kitamura Institute of Mental Health Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Kitamura KOKORO Clinic Mental Health, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Community Mental Health and Law, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Yukiko Ohashi
- Faculty of Nursing, Josai International University, Togane, Japan
| | - Michiko Toizumi
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Lay Myint Yoshida
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Toshinori Kitamura
- Kitamura Institute of Mental Health Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Kitamura KOKORO Clinic Mental Health, Tokyo, Japan.,T. and F. Kitamura Foundation for Studies and Skill Advancement in Mental Health, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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Abstract
(1) Background: High stress levels during pregnancy can affect the organogenesis and the foetus’ central nervous system maturation. The objective of this study was to determine whether a relationship between maternal stress during pregnancy and alterations in child neurodevelopment exists; (2) Methods: A bibliographical review was carried out following PRISMA Methodology and using Scopus, Web of Science and Cinahl databases. The research questions were made using PEO methodology (Participants, Exposition, Outcomes). Moreover, article quality was measured using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies; (3) Results: 22 articles that fit the inclusion criteria were selected. Different elements altered because of maternal stress during pregnancy could side with alterations in different areas of the neurodevelopment, such as cognitive development, motor development, behaviour, temperament, memory and learning abilities; (4) Conclusions: Although maternal stress can have an influence on children’s neurodevelopment, it is still unknown which are the specific elements related to this stress that can modify it negatively. Furthermore, future studies should evaluate whether a sex-specific association exists.
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Prenatal developmental origins of behavior and mental health: The influence of maternal stress in pregnancy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 117:26-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 438] [Impact Index Per Article: 109.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Revised: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Kasparian NA. Heart care before birth: A psychobiological perspective on fetal cardiac diagnosis. PROGRESS IN PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ppedcard.2019.101142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Karlsson L, Tolvanen M, Scheinin NM, Uusitupa HM, Korja R, Ekholm E, Tuulari JJ, Pajulo M, Huotilainen M, Paunio T, Karlsson H. Cohort Profile: The FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study (FinnBrain). Int J Epidemiol 2019; 47:15-16j. [PMID: 29025073 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyx173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Karlsson
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,Department of Child Psychiatry
| | - Mimmi Tolvanen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,Department of Community Dentistry
| | - Noora M Scheinin
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,Department of Psychiatry
| | - Henna-Maria Uusitupa
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study
| | - Riikka Korja
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,Department of Psychology, University of Turku
| | - Eeva Ekholm
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Jetro J Tuulari
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study
| | - Marjukka Pajulo
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,Department of Child Psychiatry
| | - Minna Huotilainen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,University of Helsinki, Cognitive Brain Research Unit and CICERO Learning Network, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Paunio
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, the Genomics and Biomarkers Unit, Helsinki, Finland.,University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.,Department of Psychiatry
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Erickson NL, Gartstein MA, Dotson JAW. Review of Prenatal Maternal Mental Health and the Development of Infant Temperament. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2017; 46:588-600. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
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Polo-Kantola P, Aukia L, Karlsson H, Karlsson L, Paavonen EJ. Sleep quality during pregnancy: associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2016; 96:198-206. [PMID: 27861713 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sleep disturbances are common during pregnancy, yet underdiagnosed and under-investigated. We evaluated sleep quality during pregnancy and assessed associated factors, especially depressive and anxiety symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 78 healthy pregnant women from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study were studied twice prospectively during pregnancy (in mid-pregnancy and late pregnancy). Sleep quality was evaluated by the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire, depressive symptoms by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and anxiety symptoms by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS Poor general sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, the number of nocturnal awakenings per night, and too-early morning awakenings increased in late pregnancy compared with mid-pregnancy (all p-values < 0.020). The total insomnia score (p < 0.001) and sleep latency increased (p = 0.005), but sleep duration and preferred sleep duration did not change. Women tended to snore more often in late pregnancy, but apneas remained rare. Almost one-fourth of the women reported both morning and daytime sleepiness, but the frequencies did not increase during the follow up. In late pregnancy, depressive and anxiety symptoms were cross-sectionally related to sleep disturbances, but depressive or anxiety symptoms in mid-pregnancy were not associated with sleep disturbances in late pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS We found deterioration in sleep quality across pregnancy. However, no increase in negative daytime consequences was found, presumably indicating a compensatory capacity against sleep impairment. Additionally, depressive and anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances were only cross-sectionally associated. Our study calls for further research on the factors that influence sleep disturbances during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Päivi Polo-Kantola
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Sleep Research Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Linda Aukia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital of Seinäjoki, Seinäjoki, Finland
| | - Hasse Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Insitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Linnea Karlsson
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Insitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - E Juulia Paavonen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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