1
|
Sörensen F, Kimmel MC, Brenner V, Krägeloh-Mann I, Skalkidou A, Mahjani B, Fransson E. Interactions of perinatal depression versus anxiety and infants' early temperament trajectories. Child Dev 2024; 95:721-733. [PMID: 38010823 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.14041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the interplay between maternal depression/anxiety and infant temperament's developmental trajectory in 1687 Swedish-speaking mother-infant dyads from Uppsala County (2009-2019), Sweden. The sample includes a high proportion of university-educated individuals and a low share of foreign-born participants. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during gestational weeks 17 and 32 and postpartum at week 6. Multinomial regression explored associations between maternal variables and infant temperament trajectories at 6 weeks, 12 months, and 18 months. Prenatal anxiety is associated with the high-rising infant difficult temperament trajectory, while prenatal depression/anhedonia is associated with the stable-medium trajectory, attenuated postpartum. Associations between infant temperament and maternal mood depended on timing (pre/postpartum) and symptom type (depression/anhedonia vs. anxiety).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Sörensen
- Pediatric Neurology & Developmental Medicine, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innovative Neuroimaging, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Mary C Kimmel
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Women's Mood Disorders, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vera Brenner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ingeborg Krägeloh-Mann
- Pediatric Neurology & Developmental Medicine, University Children's Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alkistis Skalkidou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Behrang Mahjani
- Department of Psychiatry, Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emma Fransson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Centre for Translational Microbiome Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Corridan CL, Dawson SE, Mullan S. Potential Benefits of a 'Trauma-Informed Care' Approach to Improve the Assessment and Management of Dogs Presented with Anxiety Disorders. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:459. [PMID: 38338102 PMCID: PMC10854685 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Dog caregiver reporting on the spectrum of fearful-aggressive behaviours often describes 'unpredictable' or 'exaggerated' responses to a situation/animal/person. A possible explanation for these behavioural responses considers that the dog is reacting to triggered memories for which the dog has a negative association. For many dogs undergoing veterinary behavioural treatment or rehabilitation through a canine rescue organisation, the assessing clinician relies on "proxy" reporting of the history/background by a caregiver (dog owner, foster carer, or shelter personnel). Detailed information on the event or circumstances resulting in this negative association may be limited or absent altogether. Consideration of a trauma-informed care (TIC) approach, currently applied in a wide range of human psychology and social care fields, may be helpful in guiding the clinical approach taken. The literature relating to adverse early experience (AEE) and trauma-informed care (TIC) in puppies/dogs compared to children/adults was evaluated to identify common themes and conclusions identified across both species. In the absence of known/identifiable trauma, behavioural assessment and management should consider that a 'problem' dog may behave as it does, as the result of previous trauma. The dog can then be viewed through a lens of empathy and understanding, often lacking for dogs presenting with impulsive, reactive, or aggressive behaviours. Assessment must avoid re-traumatising the animal through exposure to triggering stimuli and, treatment options should include counselling of caregivers on the impact of adverse early experiences, consideration of the window of tolerance, and TIC behavioural modification techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Susan E. Dawson
- Research Fellow in Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Siobhan Mullan
- Animal Welfare & Ethics, UCD School of Veterinary Science, Belfield, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pandipati S, Leong M, Basu R, Abel D, Hayer S, Conry J. Climate change: Overview of risks to pregnant persons and their offspring. Semin Perinatol 2023; 47:151836. [PMID: 37863676 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2023.151836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges confronting humanity. Pregnant persons, their unborn children, and offspring are particularly vulnerable, as evidenced by adverse perinatal outcomes and increased rates of childhood illnesses. Environmental inequities compound the problem of maternal health inequities, and have given rise to the environmental justice movement. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and other major medical societies have worked to heighten awareness and address the deleterious health effects of climate change and toxic environmental exposures. As part of routine prenatal, neonatal, and pediatric care, neonatal-perinatal care providers should incorporate discussions with their patients and families on potential harms and also identify actions to mitigate climate change effects on their health. This article provides clinicians with an overview of how climate change affects their patients, practical guidance in caring for them, and a frame setting of the articles to follow. Clinicians have a critical role to play, and the time to act is now.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Pandipati
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrix of San Jose, e-Lōvu Health, United States.
| | - Melanie Leong
- Attending Neonatologist, Neonatal ECMO Services, The Regional Neonatal Center of Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, United States; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, United States
| | - Rupa Basu
- Air and Climate Epidemiology Section, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California EPA, United States
| | - David Abel
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, United States
| | - Sarena Hayer
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health Sciences University, United States
| | - Jeanne Conry
- International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
O'Neill S, Nomura Y. Prenatal Stress Exposure Amplifies Effect of Maternal Suicidal Ideation on Early Childhood Behavioral Trajectories. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:1257-1271. [PMID: 37067623 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01062-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
The in utero environment influences fetal development and may predispose to disease later in life. This study examines whether maternal suicidal ideation during pregnancy is associated with children's behavioral trajectories across early childhood, and whether prenatal maternal traumatic stress accelerates the trajectories. The study included mother-child dyads (N = 331, 51.1% boys) from the longitudinal Stress In Pregnancy study; 31.1% (n = 103) mothers were Exposed to Superstorm Sandy. During their second trimester, 12.4% (n = 41) women reported suicidal ideation during pregnancy. Mothers completed the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children-2 annually from ages 2- to 6-years-old to assess multiple behavioral domains. Hierarchical linear modeling estimated within-person longitudinal trajectories of clinical behaviors, and between-person effects of maternal suicidal ideation and disaster-related stress in utero on changes in child behavior. For children exposed to both risks, Atypical behaviors (i.e., unusual behaviors, social disconnection) increased linearly across early childhood. Exposure to Superstorm Sandy and maternal suicidal ideation were independently associated with non-linear increases in Anxiety severity and maternal suicidal ideation during pregnancy was associated with a linear increase in Attention problems across early childhood. Maternal suicidal ideation during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for a range of behavioral and emotional difficulties in early childhood and the trajectory of atypical behaviors was amplified by disaster-related traumatic stress. Findings highlight the need for health professionals to screen for suicidal ideation among their pregnant patients. Pregnant women who experience severe stress may require additional monitoring and support to reduce risk for poorer early childhood outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah O'Neill
- Psychology Department, The City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- Psychology Department, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Yoko Nomura
- Psychology Department, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
- Psychology Department, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Silva PYF, Lima da Cruz MC, Guerra Azevedo I, Moreira RS, Sousa KG, Pereira SA. Risk of Global Developmental Delay in Infants Born from Mothers with COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Womens Health 2023; 15:467-474. [PMID: 37033123 PMCID: PMC10075265 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s389291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the risk of global developmental delay in infants born from mothers with COVID-19. Patients and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and November 2021, with 54 infants of both sexes aged between 1 and 12 months. Twenty-seven infants born from mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy composed the COVID-19 group, whereas infants born from mothers not exposed to COVID-19 composed the control group. Medical records and child health booklets provided neonatal and prenatal data. The Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children screened the risk of global developmental delay during a phone interview or home visit. Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney test, and binary logistic regression were applied. Results The risk of motor developmental delay was identified in 15 infants (12 in the COVID-19 group), while 36 were at risk of behavioral alteration (22 in the COVID-19 group). The COVID-19 group presented a 6.3-fold risk of motor developmental delay. Motor developmental delay was also significantly associated with socioemotional alterations (odds ratio = 6.4, p = 0.01). Regarding families of infants in the COVID-19 group, 63% of the mothers presented risk of depression, 51.9% risk of substance abuse, 40.7% risk of food insecurity, and 7.4% risk of domestic violence. The inflexibility subscale of the survey was a statistically relevant variable for the socioemotional domain. Conclusion Infants born from mothers with COVID-19 were at high risk of motor developmental delay and socioemotional alterations. Although, this study fills an important gap in the literature regarding the influence of maternal exposure to COVID-19 on infant development, new studies screening families with infants at risk of developmental delay may significantly impact maternal and child health-related indicators, such as physical health, emotional development and social behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ykaro Fialho Silva
- Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Maria Clara Lima da Cruz
- Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Ingrid Guerra Azevedo
- Dirección de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, La Araucania, Chile
| | - Rafaela Silva Moreira
- Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Araranguá, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Klayton Galante Sousa
- Physical Therapy Department, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde do Trairí, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Silvana Alves Pereira
- Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Correspondence: Silvana Alves Pereira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Physical Therapy Department, Campus Universitário - Lagoa Nova, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-970, Brazil, Tel +55 84 99181 8144, Email
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Foss S, So RP, Petty CR, Waber DP, Wright RJ, Bosquet Enlow M. Effects of Maternal and Child Lifetime Traumatic Stress Exposures, Infant Temperament, and Caregiving Quality on Preschoolers' Executive Functioning. Dev Neuropsychol 2022; 47:327-352. [PMID: 36475997 PMCID: PMC9837737 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2022.2147180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We examined effects of maternal and child lifetime traumatic stress exposures, infant temperament, and caregiving quality on parent ratings of preschoolers' executive functioning (EF). Maternal lifetime trauma was associated with preschoolers' EF problems; this association was mediated by greater child trauma exposure. Infant temperament was associated with EF abilities, particularly among females. Among males, infant extraversion/surgency mediated the association of maternal lifetime trauma with poorer child EF. Caregiving quality was negatively associated with maternal and child trauma exposures but did not predict child EF. Findings have implications for interventions to identify children at risk for poor EF and optimize outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Foss
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel P. So
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carter R. Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Deborah P. Waber
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Kravis Children’s Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bruinhof N, Vacaru SV, van den Heuvel MI, de Weerth C, Beijers R. Prenatal hair cortisol concentrations during the COVID-19 outbreak: Associations with maternal psychological stress and infant temperament. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 144:105863. [PMID: 35868205 PMCID: PMC9270179 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy, including stress resulting from disasters and trauma, has been linked to temperamental difficulties in offspring. Although heightened cortisol concentrations are often hypothesized as an underlying mechanism, evidence supporting this mechanism is not consistent, potentially because of methodological issues and low stress in the population. AIM To address these issues, this preregistered study investigated the following associations between: 1) prenatal psychological stress and hair cortisol, as a biomarker for chronic stress, during the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e., as a major worldwide psychological stressor), and 2) maternal hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak and later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. Additionally, we explored whether associations were different for women with low versus high socioeconomic status (SES; maternal education and annual household income) and at different stages of pregnancy. METHOD Pregnant women (N = 100) filled out online questionnaires during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Six months later, when most mothers were still pregnant or had just given birth, maternal hair samples were collected during home visits. When infants were six months old, mothers reported on their infant's temperament. RESULTS Although hierarchical regression analyses revealed no associations between prenatal COVID-19 psychological stress and hair cortisol during the COVID-19 outbreak, SES proved to be a moderator in this association. Only pregnant women with higher levels of SES, not lower levels, showed a positive association between work-related and social support-related COVID-19 worries and hair cortisol. Finally, prenatal hair cortisol was not associated with later infant temperamental negative affectivity and orienting/regulation. CONCLUSION Although the COVID-19 outbreak proved to be a major psychological stressor worldwide, the physiological impact of the crisis might be different for pregnant women with higher SES as compared to lower SES.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nina Bruinhof
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Stefania V. Vacaru
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands,Department of Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084710. [PMID: 35457577 PMCID: PMC9029063 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on society, particularly affecting its vulnerable members, including pregnant women and their unborn children. Pregnant mothers reported fear of infection, fear of vertical transmission, fear of poor birth and child outcomes, social isolation, uncertainty about their partner's presence during medical appointments and delivery, increased domestic abuse, and other collateral damage, including vaccine hesitancy. Accordingly, pregnant women's known vulnerability for mental health problems has become a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, also because of the known effects of prenatal stress for the unborn child. The current narrative review provides a historical overview of transgenerational effects of exposure to disasters during pregnancy, and the role of maternal prenatal stress. We place these effects into the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hereby, we aim to draw attention to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women of reproductive age (15-49 year) and its potential associated short-term and long-term consequences for the health of children who are conceived, carried, and born during this pandemic. Timely detection and intervention during the first 1000 days is essential to reduce the burden of transgenerational effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
|
9
|
Xie T, Wang Y, Zou Z, Wu Y, Fan X, Dai J, Liu Y, Bai J. Relationship between the gut microbiota and temperament in children 1-2 years old in Chinese birth cohort. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 148:52-60. [PMID: 35101710 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the relationship between the gut microbiota and temperament can provide new insights for the regulation of behavioral intervention in children, which is still lacking research. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the gut microbiota and temperament in a cohort of children in 1 year and 2 years old. METHODS This study included a total of 37 children with completed information, in which 51 samples at age 1 and 41 samples at age 2 were received respectively. We collected birth and demographic information. Parents reported their child's temperament characteristics using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-revised (IBQ-R) and Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ). Fecal samples were collected from each child at 1 and 2 years old and sequenced with MiSeq sequencer. Multiple linear regressions and linear mixed effect models were used to analyze the relationship between the temperament and their microbiota composition as well as the diversity and effect of gender or age on this relationship. RESULTS At age of year 2, Faecalibacterium was negatively associated with high-intensity pleasure and surgency. Bifidobacterium was negatively correlated with Perceptual sensitivity. Results showed no difference about three domains between year 1 and year 2, while gut microbiota showed diversity difference and genera difference. There was no gender and age difference on the relationship between temperament and the gut microbiota. CONCLUSIONS Temperament was associated with the gut microbiota over time. The temperament remained stable and the relationship between the gut microbiota and temperament wasn't associated with age and gender.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianqu Xie
- Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Taiyuan Central Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No. 5 Dong San Dao Xiang, Jiefang Road, Taiyuan, 030009, China.
| | - Zhijie Zou
- Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Yinyin Wu
- Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Xiaoxiao Fan
- Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Jiamiao Dai
- Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Yanqun Liu
- Wuhan University School of Nursing, Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Jinbing Bai
- Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gustafsson HC, Young AS, Stamos G, Wilken S, Brito NH, Thomason ME, Graham A, Nigg JT, Sullivan EL. Innovative methods for remote assessment of neurobehavioral development. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2021; 52:101015. [PMID: 34601346 PMCID: PMC8483646 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, research institutions across the globe have modified their operations in ways that have limited or eliminated the amount of permissible in-person research interaction. In order to prevent the loss of important developmentally-timed data during the pandemic, researchers have quickly pivoted and developed innovative methods for remote assessment of research participants. In this manuscript, we describe methods developed for remote assessment of a parent child cohort with a focus on examining the perinatal environment, behavioral and biological indicators of child neurobehavioral development, parent-child interaction, as well as parent and child mental and physical health. We include recommendations relevant to adapting in-laboratory assessments for remote data collection and conclude with a description of the successful dissemination of the methods to eight research sites across the United States, each of whom are involved in Phase 1 of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study. These remote methods were born out of pandemic-related necessity; however, they have much wider applicability and may offer advantages over in-laboratory neurodevelopmental assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna C Gustafsson
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Anna S Young
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Gayle Stamos
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Sydney Wilken
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Natalie H Brito
- New York University, 426 Greene Street, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | | | - Alice Graham
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Joel T Nigg
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rodríguez-Soto NC, Buxó CJ, Morou-Bermudez E, Pérez-Edgar K, Ocasio-Quiñones IT, Surillo-González MB, Martinez KG. The impact of prenatal maternal stress due to potentially traumatic events on child temperament: A systematic review. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22195. [PMID: 34674245 PMCID: PMC8549868 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the current study was to complete a systematic review of the relationship between prenatal maternal stress due to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and child temperament. Eligible studies through June 2020 were identified utilizing a search strategy in PubMed and PsycInfo. Included studies examined associations between prenatal maternal stress due to PTE and child temperament. Two independent coders extracted study characteristics and three coders assessed study quality. Of the 1969 identified studies, 20 met full inclusion criteria. Studies were classified on two dimensions: (1) disaster-related stress and (2) intimate partner violence during pregnancy. For disaster-related prenatal maternal stress, 75% (nine out of 12) of published reports found associations with increased child negative affectivity, 50% (five out of 10) also noted associations with lower effortful control/regulation, and 38% (three out of eight) found associations with lower positive affectivity. When considering prenatal intimate partner violence stress, 80% (four out of five) of published reports found associations with higher child negative affectivity, 67% (four out of six) found associations with lower effortful control/regulation, and 33% (one out of three) found associations with lower positive affectivity. Prenatal maternal stress due to PTEs may impact the offspring's temperament, especially negative affectivity. Mitigating the effects of maternal stress in pregnancy is needed in order to prevent adverse outcomes on the infant's socioemotional development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nayra C. Rodríguez-Soto
- University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR
- Carlos Albizu University, San Juan, PR
| | - Carmen J. Buxó
- University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bates RA, Singletary B, Dynia JM, Justice LM. Temperament and sleep behaviors in infants and toddlers living in low-income homes. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 65:101657. [PMID: 34715609 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Temperament is a dynamic trait that can be shaped by maturity and environmental experiences. In this study, we sought to determine whether and the extent to which temperament was predicted by sleeping behaviors in an understudied sample of primarily Black and White infants and toddlers living in low-income homes (N = 150). Sleeping behaviors were assessed at 15-19 months of age with caregiver report of the Tayside Children's Sleep Questionnaire. Temperament was examined as effortful control, negativity, and surgency with the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Very Short Form at 9-12 months of age and with the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire Short Form at 20-24 months of age. Covariates were maternal education, household income, and child sex and race. Continuous variables were standardized, then missing data from independent variables were multiply imputed in 20 datasets. Regression analyses showed that about 1 SD improvement in toddler sleep behaviors significantly predicted about 1/5 SD better toddler effortful control. However, sleep behaviors did not significantly predict toddler surgency or negative affect. This study shows that for a sample of infants and toddlers in low-income homes, how a child learns to regulate sleeping behaviors may influence the development of overall effortful control about six months later.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Britt Singletary
- The Ohio State University Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, USA
| | - Jaclyn M Dynia
- The Ohio State University Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, USA
| | - Laura M Justice
- The Ohio State University Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Giudice LC, Llamas-Clark EF, DeNicola N, Pandipati S, Zlatnik MG, Decena DCD, Woodruff TJ, Conry JA. Climate change, women's health, and the role of obstetricians and gynecologists in leadership. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2021; 155:345-356. [PMID: 34694628 PMCID: PMC9298078 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is one of the major global health threats to the world's population. It is brought on by global warming due in large part to increasing levels of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity, including burning fossil fuels (carbon dioxide), animal husbandry (methane from manure), industry emissions (ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide), vehicle/factory exhaust, and chlorofluorocarbon aerosols that trap extra heat in the earth's atmosphere. Resulting extremes of weather give rise to wildfires, air pollution, changes in ecology, and floods. These in turn result in displacement of populations, family disruption, violence, and major impacts on water quality and availability, food security, public health and economic infrastructures, and limited abilities for civil society to maintain citizen safety. Climate change also has direct impacts on human health and well-being. Particularly vulnerable populations are affected, including women, pregnant women, children, the disabled, and the elderly, who comprise the majority of the poor globally. Additionally, the effects of climate change disproportionally affect disadvantaged communities, including low income and communities of color, and lower-income countries that are at highest risk of adverse impacts when disasters occur due to inequitable distribution of resources and their socioeconomic status. The climate crisis is tilting the risk balance unfavorably for women's sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as newborn and child health. Obstetrician/gynecologists have the unique opportunity to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for mitigation strategies to reverse climate change affecting our patients and their families. This article puts climate change in the context of women's reproductive health as a public health issue, a social justice issue, a human rights issue, an economic issue, a political issue, and a gender issue that needs our attention now for the health and well-being of this and future generations. FIGO joins a broad coalition of international researchers and the medical community in stating that the current climate crisis presents an imminent health risk to pregnant people, developing fetuses, and reproductive health, and recognizing that we need society-wide solutions, government policies, and global cooperation to address and reduce contributors, including fossil fuel production, to climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda C Giudice
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Erlidia F Llamas-Clark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Ultrasound, University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Nathaniel DeNicola
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Santosh Pandipati
- Obstetrix Medical Group/Mednax (Maternal-Fetal Medicine), Campbell, California, USA
| | - Marya G Zlatnik
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Environmental Research and Translation for Health (EaRTH) Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ditas Cristina D Decena
- Departments of Anatomy, Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health International, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Environmental Research and Translation for Health (EaRTH) Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Stress in pregnancy: Clinical and adaptive behavior of offspring following Superstorm Sandy. Dev Psychopathol 2021; 34:1249-1259. [PMID: 34596500 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421000304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated 304 children from a longitudinal project (the Stress in Pregnancy (SIP) Study) who were exposed and unexposed to Superstorm Sandy ("Sandy") in utero. They were prospectively followed from 2 to 6 years of age and their clinical and adaptive behaviors were assessed annually. Using a hierarchical linear model, the study found that in utero Sandy exposure was associated with greater clinical (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and lower adaptive behaviors (social skills and functional communication) at age 2 years. However, the trajectories were notably different between the two groups. Anxiety increased more rapidly among the exposed than unexposed group at ages 2-4, and depression increased only among the exposed. In contrast, social skills and functional communication were lower in exposed compared to unexposed children at age 2, but quickly increased and exceeded the capacities of unexposed children by age 3. The findings confirm that prenatal Sandy exposure is not only associated with an increase in anxiety, depression, and somatization in offspring, but also with greater adaptive skills as the children got older. Our study demonstrates that while children who have experienced stress in utero demonstrate elevated suboptimal clinical behaviors related to affective disorders, they nevertheless have the potential to learn adaptive skills.
Collapse
|
15
|
Aushev VN, Li Q, Deyssenroth M, Zhang W, Finik J, Hurd YL, Nomura Y, Chen J. Placental gene network modules are associated with maternal stress during pregnancy and infant temperament. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21922. [PMID: 34533879 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100144rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy (MPSP) is a known contributor to maladaptive neurobehavioral development of the offspring; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms linking MPSP with childhood outcome remain largely unknown. Transcriptome-wide gene expression data were generated using RNA-seq from placenta samples collected in a multi-ethnic urban birth cohort in New York City (n = 129). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to characterize placental co-expression modules, which were then evaluated for their associations with MPSP and infant temperament. WGCNA revealed 16 gene coexpression modules. One module, enriched for regulation of chromosome organization/gene expression, was positively associated with MPSP and negatively associated with Regulatory Capacity (REG), a component of infant temperament. Two other modules, enriched for cotranslational protein targeting and cell cycle regulation, respectively, displayed negative associations with MPSP and positive associations with REG. A module enriched with oxidative phosphorylation/mitochondrial translation was positively associated with REG. These findings support the notion that the placenta provides a functional in utero link between MPSP and infant temperament, possibly through transcriptional regulation of placental gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasily N Aushev
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maya Deyssenroth
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Psychology, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jackie Finik
- Department of Psychology at Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yasmin L Hurd
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yoko Nomura
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychology at Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Following the Assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Matern Child Health J 2021; 25:1455-1464. [PMID: 34021436 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-021-03139-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Women exposed to stressful events during pregnancy are thought to be at increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. However, studies investigating stressful events are often unable to control for important confounders, such as behavioral and genetic characteristics, or to isolate the impact of the stressor from other secondary effects. We used a discordant-sibling design, which provides stronger inferences about causality, to examine whether a widespread stressor with limited impact on day-to-day life (John F. Kennedy assassination) resulted in an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. METHODS Data were obtained from the Collaborative Perinatal Project, a prospective, multi-site cohort study conducted in the US from 1959 to 1965. Our analysis was restricted to singleton live births ≥24 weeks born before the assassination (n = 24,406) or in utero at the time (n = 5833). We also evaluated associations within siblings discordant for exposure (n = 1144). We used survival analysis to evaluate associations between exposure and preterm birth and marginal models to evaluate associations with birthweight and placental pathology. RESULTS First trimester exposure was associated with preterm birth (hazard ratio (HR): 1.17; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.31). In the discordant-sibling model, the point estimate was similar (HR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.36, 4.06). Third trimester exposure was associated with increased odds of fetal acute inflammation in the placenta (odds ratio (OR): 1.34, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.71). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE First trimester exposure to an acute stressor was associated with preterm birth. We did not observe increased odds of placental pathology with first trimester exposure; however, stress may increase preterm birth risk through chronic placental inflammation, which was not evaluated in this sample.
Collapse
|
17
|
Fitzgerald E, Parent C, Kee MZL, Meaney MJ. Maternal Distress and Offspring Neurodevelopment: Challenges and Opportunities for Pre-clinical Research Models. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:635304. [PMID: 33643013 PMCID: PMC7907173 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.635304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-natal exposure to acute maternal trauma or chronic maternal distress can confer increased risk for psychiatric disorders in later life. Acute maternal trauma is the result of unforeseen environmental or personal catastrophes, while chronic maternal distress is associated with anxiety or depression. Animal studies investigating the effects of pre-natal stress have largely used brief stress exposures during pregnancy to identify critical periods of fetal vulnerability, a paradigm which holds face validity to acute maternal trauma in humans. While understanding these effects is undoubtably important, the literature suggests maternal stress in humans is typically chronic and persistent from pre-conception through gestation. In this review, we provide evidence to this effect and suggest a realignment of current animal models to recapitulate this chronicity. We also consider candidate mediators, moderators and mechanisms of maternal distress, and suggest a wider breadth of research is needed, along with the incorporation of advanced -omics technologies, in order to understand the neurodevelopmental etiology of psychiatric risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eamon Fitzgerald
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Carine Parent
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michelle Z. L. Kee
- Translational Neuroscience Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michael J. Meaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Translational Neuroscience Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
DeYoung SE, Mangum M. Pregnancy, Birthing, and Postpartum Experiences During COVID-19 in the United States. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2021; 6:611212. [PMID: 33869553 PMCID: PMC8022659 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2021.611212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The research aims of this project were to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum experiences in the United States. Our data include responses from 34 states within the US. Findings from our analyses indicate that higher perceived social support predicted higher scores of well-being, while higher scores of perceived loneliness predicted lower scores of well-being, and higher trauma predicted lower well-being measured as satisfaction with life. Qualitative data support these findings, as well as the finding that there were various sources of stress for respondents during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum timeframe-particularly in terms of managing work/occupation obligations and childcare. Additionally, this research fills a gap in understanding infant feeding in emergencies. Respondents perceived that early release from the hospital reduced access to lactation support, and many respondents reported receiving free samples of breastmilk substitutes through a variety of sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. DeYoung
- Disaster Research Center and Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Michaela Mangum
- Disaster Research Center, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
COVID-19 threatens maternal mental health and infant development: possible paths from stress and isolation to adverse outcomes and a call for research and practice. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2021; 52:200-204. [PMID: 33619672 PMCID: PMC7899198 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01140-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed mothers to stress and social isolation during the pre- and post-natal periods. The deleterious effects of stress on both pregnant women and their infants are well documented, with research suggesting that effects are exacerbated by reduced social support. In this brief report, we summarize evidence linking stress and social isolation to negative outcomes for mothers and infants and present a conceptual model featuring inflammation as a driving mechanism. There is strong evidence that the coronavirus pandemic will affect mothers and infants through immune pathways that, in previous research, have been shown to link stress and social isolation during the pre- and post-natal periods with deficits in maternal mental health and infant well-being and development across developmental stages. We close with recommendations for novel research, policy changes, and integrated clinical care that can address these biological threats to infants and mothers while leveraging the anti-inflammatory effects of social support.
Collapse
|
20
|
Sechi C, Vismara L, Rollè L, Prino LE, Lucarelli L. First-Time Mothers' and Fathers' Developmental Changes in the Perception of Their Daughters' and Sons' Temperament: Its Association With Parents' Mental Health. Front Psychol 2020; 11:2066. [PMID: 32973623 PMCID: PMC7468484 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Most studies investigating the role of parenting behaviors on a child's development are directed to mothers. However, recent analyses show that mothers and fathers have a different influence on a child's functioning, specifically her/his temperament. The present study explored the developmental change of parents' perception of their daughters' and sons' temperament and its association with parental mental health problems. METHODS The sample included 188 parents (94 couples) and their at-term 94 babies (55.3% boys, 44.7% girls). Assessments by self-reports were conducted at 3 (Time 1) and 12 (Time 2) months after the children's birth; at Time 1, mothers and fathers independently answered: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ-R). At Time 2, EPDS, STAI, and IBQ-R were again administered to mothers and fathers. RESULTS In general, mothers and fathers would give similar descriptions of their child's temperament throughout the first year of life; however, infant temperament showed developmental changes as well as gender differences. Mother and father anxiety and depression symptoms are associated with the infants' negative affectivity. Also, mothers with high anxiety and depression levels perceive their infants with a minor tendency to approach novelty, to seek environmental stimulation, and to express/experience positive emotions. CONCLUSION The results highlight the need to screen for infants' temperament vulnerabilities in the context of maternal and paternal depression in order to protect the child from behavioral, cognitive, and emotional difficulties and to create specific programs aimed at preventing dysfunctional parent-infant relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sechi
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Laura Vismara
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luca Rollè
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Loredana Lucarelli
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Simcock G, Cobham VE, Laplante DP, Elgbeili G, Gruber R, Kildea S, King S. A cross-lagged panel analysis of children's sleep, attention, and mood in a prenatally stressed cohort: The QF2011 Queensland flood study. J Affect Disord 2019; 255:96-104. [PMID: 31150945 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well recognized that childhood sleep, attention and mood problems increase risk for multiple adverse outcomes across the life-span; therefore, understanding factors, such as prenatal maternal stress, that underlie these types of childhood problems is critical for developing interventions that may optimize longer-term functioning. Our goal was to determine the association between disaster-related stress in pregnancy and young children's sleep, attention, and anxious/depressed symptoms. METHODS Soon after a major flood in Australia in 2011, we assessed various aspects of disaster-related prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) in women who had been pregnant at the time. Mothers rated several domains of their children's development with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at ages 2½ (n = 134) and 4 years (n = 118). RESULTS The primary finding was that more severe objective flood-related hardship in pregnancy predicted higher sleep problem scores at 2½ years, and that a negative maternal cognitive appraisal of the flood predicted lower attention problem scores at 2½ years. A cross-lagged panel analysis examined the association between children's sleep, attention, and anxious/depressed symptoms within and across ages. Results showed that these problems were likely to co-occur at each age, and that they were stable from 2½ to 4 years. Additionally, anxious/depressed scores at age 2½ predicted sleep problem scores at 4 years, all else being equal. LIMITATIONS Limitations of the study include a relatively small sample size and the children's outcome data relied on maternal report using the CBCL, rather than independent observation of the children's functioning, which may have introduced reporter bias. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of early intervention for these childhood problems to optimize long-term mental health, particularly under conditions of prenatal stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Simcock
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Vanessa E Cobham
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David P Laplante
- Schizophrenia and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Guillaume Elgbeili
- Schizophrenia and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Reut Gruber
- Attention, Behavior and Sleep Laboratory, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sue Kildea
- School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Social Work, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia
| | - Suzanne King
- Schizophrenia and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Buthmann J, Finik J, Ventura G, Zhang W, Shereen AD, Nomura Y. The children of Superstorm Sandy: Maternal prenatal depression blunts offspring electrodermal activity. Biol Psychol 2019; 146:107716. [PMID: 31176750 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We set out to examine the relations between prenatal exposure to the natural disaster Superstorm Sandy, maternal depression, and offspring electrodermal activity (EDA). EDA was measured via skin conductance response (SCR) magnitude in 198 children (M = 42.54 months, SD = 12.76) during a startle paradigm. In keeping with prior research, we expected prenatal depression to be associated with hyporeactive EDA and prenatal stress to be associated with hyperreactive EDA. SCR magnitude was lower in children prenatally exposed to depression alone, when compared to Superstorm Sandy, and controls. SCR magnitude of children prenatally exposed to both maternal depression and the storm was lower than that of all other groups. Our results emphasize the influence of maternal prenatal mental health, support targeted risk assessment for children who experienced an adverse prenatal environment, and highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the interactions between maternal mood and stress on the developing child.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Buthmann
- CUNY Graduate Center, Department of Psychology, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
| | - J Finik
- CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 55 W 125th St., New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - G Ventura
- CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA
| | - W Zhang
- CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA; New Jersey City University, Department of Psychology, 2039 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07305, USA
| | - A D Shereen
- CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center, 85 St Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA; University of California, Department of Neurology, 680 California Ave, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Y Nomura
- CUNY Graduate Center, Department of Psychology, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; CUNY Queens College, Department of Psychology, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA; CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 55 W 125th St., New York, NY 10027, USA; CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Graduate Center, 85 St Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031, USA; Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 1 Gustave Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
McLean MA, Cobham VE, Simcock G, Kildea S, King S. Toddler Temperament Mediates the Effect of Prenatal Maternal Stress on Childhood Anxiety Symptomatology: The QF2011 Queensland Flood Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16111998. [PMID: 31195616 PMCID: PMC6603961 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16111998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
It is not known whether alterations to temperamental characteristics associated with prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) exposure account for the development of childhood anxiety symptomatology (internalizing behaviors and anxiety symptoms). The QF2011 Queensland flood study examined whether (1) toddler temperamental characteristics explained the association between PNMS exposure and childhood anxiety symptomatology; and (2) whether effects were dependent upon child sex or the timing of gestational exposure to PNMS. We investigated the effects of various aspects of flood-related stress in pregnancy (objective hardship, cognitive appraisal, subjective distress) on maternal report of 16-month toddler temperament (attentional control, shy-inhibition, negative reactivity), 4-year maternal-reported childhood anxiety symptomatology (internalizing and anxiety symptoms; N = 104), and teacher reports of internalizing behaviors (N = 77). Severity of maternal objective hardship during pregnancy and shy-inhibited behaviors were uniquely associated with 4-year child anxiety symptoms. Mediation analyses found that higher levels of 16-month negative reactivity accounted, in part, for the relationship between increased maternal objective flood-related hardship and greater internalizing behaviors (maternal but not teacher report). Neither child sex nor gestational timing of exposure moderated the hypothesized mediations. Our findings highlight several pathways through which varying aspects of disaster-related PNMS may influence early childhood anxiety symptomatology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mia A McLean
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Vanessa E Cobham
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Gabrielle Simcock
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
- Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute, University of Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.
| | - Sue Kildea
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
- School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Social Work, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Suzanne King
- Schizophrenia and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Verdun, QC H4H 1R3, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|