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Nazzari S, Pili MP, Günay Y, Provenzi L. Pandemic babies: A systematic review of the association between maternal pandemic-related stress during pregnancy and infant development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105723. [PMID: 38762129 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, with its far-reaching influence on daily life, constituted a highly stressful experience for many people worldwide, jeopardizing individuals' mental health, particularly in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women. While a growing body of evidence links prenatal maternal stress to biological and developmental alterations in offspring, the specific impact of prenatal exposure to maternal pandemic-related stress (PRS) on infant development remains unclear. A comprehensive literature search was performed in October 2023 according to the PRISMA guidelines, which yielded a total of 28 records. The selected papers investigated a vast range of developmental and biological outcomes in the offspring with large methodological variations. The reviewed studies showed mixed results. Either direct associations between maternal PRS during pregnancy and infant temperament and socio-emotional development, or indirect links, mediated by maternal mental health, emerged in most studies. Furthermore, maternal PRS was associated with epigenetic and brain alterations in the offspring, although studies were limited in number. Collectively, the reviewed findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of early adverse exposures on infant development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nazzari
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Miriam Paola Pili
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Yaren Günay
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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2
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Rodríguez-Rabassa M, Appleton AA, Rosario-Villafañe V, Repollet-Carrer I, Borges-Rodríguez M, Dedós-Peña L, González M, Velázquez-González P, Muniz-Rodriguez K, Mántaras-Ortiz C, Rivera-Amill V, Olivieri-Ramos O, Alvarado-Domenech LI. Associations between the social environment and early childhood developmental outcomes of Puerto Rican children with prenatal Zika virus exposure: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:342. [PMID: 38755525 PMCID: PMC11100158 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04806-y] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to the Zika virus can lead to microcephaly and adverse developmental outcomes, even in children without evident birth defects. The social environment plays a crucial role in infant health and developmental trajectories, especially during periods of heightened brain plasticity. The study aimed to assess socioenvironmental factors as predictors of developmental outcomes of 36-month-old children exposed to Zika virus prenatally. STUDY DESIGN This cross-sectional study included 53 mothers and 55 children enrolled in the Pediatric Outcomes of Prenatal Zika Exposure cohort study in Puerto Rico. The study performs follow-up developmental assessments of children born to mothers with confirmed and probable Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Mothers completed socioenvironmental questionnaires (e.g., Perceived Neighborhood Scale and US Household Food Insecurity Survey). Children's developmental outcomes were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development: Third Edition, the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Third Edition, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Socioemotional: Second Edition, and the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale. RESULTS Linear regression models, adjusting for a child's sex and age and maternal education, revealed that early life exposure to food insecurity and maternal pregnancy stressors were significantly associated with poorer developmental outcomes in Zika virus-exposed children at 36 months of age. Maternal resilience representation of adaptive ability was associated with the preservation of adequate developmental outcomes in children. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy and early childhood are critical life periods for ensuring optimal brain development in children. While the mechanisms in the interaction of children with their environment are complex, the risk and protective factors identified in the study are modifiable through public policy and preventive initiatives. Implementation of comprehensive strategies that improve access to social support programs, educational and nutritional interventions, and mental health services during pregnancy and early childhood can enhance the developmental potential of vulnerable children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Rodríguez-Rabassa
- Department of Pediatrics, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, Puerto Rico.
- RCMI Center for Research Resources, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, Puerto Rico.
- Clinical Psychology Program, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, 00732-7004, Puerto Rico.
| | - Allison A Appleton
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lydiet Dedós-Peña
- Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, Puerto Rico
| | - Marielly González
- Clinical Psychology Program, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, 00732-7004, Puerto Rico
| | - Paola Velázquez-González
- Clinical Psychology Program, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, 00732-7004, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Claudia Mántaras-Ortiz
- Clinical Psychology Program, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, 00732-7004, Puerto Rico
| | - Vanessa Rivera-Amill
- RCMI Center for Research Resources, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR, Puerto Rico
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Pinheiro GSMA, Lemos SMA, Martins IDA, Januário GC, Cintra ML, Farias AVSR, Oliveira RMDS, Januário JN, Azevedo VMGDO, Bentes AA, Alves CRL. Effects of SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure and risk factors on neurodevelopment until 12 months: A prospective cohort study in Brazil. Early Hum Dev 2024; 188:105918. [PMID: 38104363 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105918] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure on child development remain inconclusive. AIMS To analyze the effects of SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure on neurodevelopment until 12 months. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study conducted in five municipalities in Southeast Brazil from August 2021 to September 2022. SUBJECTS Infants were recruited from a serological survey performed during neonatal screening and followed up to 12 months old. We included 224 infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and 225 non-exposed, according to the serology results of the newborn as well as their mothers and the maternal antenatal RT-PCR results. OUTCOME MEASURES Developmental assessments were performed at 6 and 12 months using the Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children-Brazilian Version (SWYC-BR). Children with suspected developmental delay (SDD) at 6 and 12 months were considered at high risk for developmental delay (HRDD). Additionally, risk factors associated with SDD were examined. RESULTS There were 111 children identified with SDD and 52 with HRDD. SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure was not associated with SDD. Exposure in the first gestational trimester increased SDD risk by 2.15 times compared to the third. Cesarean delivery predicted SDD (OR 1.56; 95%CI 1.01-2.42) and HRDD (OR 1.91; 95%CI 1.04-3.48). Additionally, suspected maternal depression predicted SDD (OR 1.76; 95%CI 1.01-3.10). CONCLUSION SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure did not increase the developmental delay risk. However, our findings suggest that the earlier the gestational exposure, the greater the developmental delay risk at 12 months. Cesarean delivery and suspected maternal depression increased the developmental delay risk, independent of virus exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stela Maris Aguiar Lemos
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190 - Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Isadora de Araújo Martins
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190 - Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Cintra Januário
- Secretaria de Estado de Saúde de Minas Gerais, Rodovia Papa João Paulo II, 4143. Cidade Administrativa - Serra Verde, Belo Horizonte, MG 31630-900, Brazil
| | - Mila Lemos Cintra
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190 - Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Nélio Januário
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190 - Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil.
| | | | - Aline Almeida Bentes
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190 - Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil.
| | - Claudia Regina Lindgren Alves
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190 - Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil.
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Celik IH, Ozkaya Parlakay A, Canpolat FE. Management of neonates with maternal prenatal coronavirus infection and influencing factors. Pediatr Res 2024; 95:436-444. [PMID: 37857851 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02855-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnancy causes adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. Neonates are at risk of vertical transmission and in-utero infection. Additionally, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and impairment in the organ systems of the mother are associated with neonatal outcomes, including impaired intrauterine growth, prematurity, and neonatal ICU admission. The management of neonates born from infected mothers has changed over the progress of the pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, cesarean section, immediate separation of mother-infant dyads, isolation of neonates, and avoiding of skin-to-skin contact, breast milk, and breastfeeding were the main practices to reduce vertical and horizontal transmission risk in the era of insufficient knowledge. The effects of antenatal steroids and delayed cord clamping on COVID-19 were also not known. As the pandemic progressed, data showed that prenatal, delivery room, and postnatal care of neonates can be performed as pre-pandemic practices. Variants and vaccines that affect clinical course and outcomes have emerged during the pandemic. The severity of the disease and the timing of infection in pregnancy also influence maternal and neonatal outcomes. The knowledge and lessons from COVID-19 will be helpful for the next pandemic if it happens. IMPACT: Prenatal infection with COVID-19 is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Our review includes the management of neonates with prenatal COVID-19 infection exposure, maternal-fetal, delivery room, and postnatal care of neonates, clinical features, treatment of neonates, and influencing factors such as variants, vaccination, severity of maternal disease, and timing of infection during pregnancy. There is a growing body of data and evidence about the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge and lessons from the pandemic will be helpful for the next pandemic if it happens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Istemi Han Celik
- University of Health Sciences Turkey; Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Ankara, Türkiye.
| | - Aslinur Ozkaya Parlakay
- Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University; Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Fuat Emre Canpolat
- University of Health Sciences Turkey, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Ankara, Türkiye
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5
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Celik IH, Tanacan A, Canpolat FE. Neonatal outcomes of maternal prenatal coronavirus infection. Pediatr Res 2024; 95:445-455. [PMID: 38057579 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02950-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant changes in life and healthcare all over the world. Pregnant women and their newborns require extra attention due to the increased risk of adverse outcomes. Adverse pregnancy outcomes include intensive care unit (ICU) admission, pulmonary, cardiac, and renal impairment leading to mortality. Immaturity and variations of the neonatal immune system may be advantageous in responding to the virus. Neonates are at risk of vertical transmission and in-utero infection. Impaired intrauterine growth, prematurity, vertical transmission, and neonatal ICU admission are the most concerning issues. Data on maternal and neonatal outcomes should be interpreted cautiously due to study designs, patient characteristics, clinical variables, the effects of variants, and vaccination beyond the pandemic. Cesarean section, immediate separation of mother-infant dyads, isolation of neonates, and avoidance of breast milk were performed to reduce transmission risk at the beginning of the pandemic in the era of insufficient knowledge. Vertical transmission was found to be low with favorable short-term outcomes. Serious fetal and neonatal outcomes are not expected, according to growing evidence. Long-term effects may be associated with fetal programming. Knowledge and lessons from COVID-19 will be helpful for the next pandemic if it occurs. IMPACT: Prenatal infection with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Our review includes the effects of COVID-19 on the fetus and neonates, transmission routes, placental effects, fetal and neonatal outcomes, and long-term effects on neonates. There is a growing body of data and evidence about the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge and lessons from the pandemic will be helpful for the next pandemic if it happens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Istemi Han Celik
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Health Sciences Türkiye; Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health Teaching and Research Hospital, 06010, Ankara, Türkiye.
| | - Atakan Tanacan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatology Clinic, University of Health Sciences Turkiye, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, 06800, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Fuat Emre Canpolat
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, 06800, Ankara, Türkiye
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Nguyen T, Zillich L, Cetin M, Hall ASM, Foo JC, Sirignano L, Frank J, Send TS, Gilles M, Rietschel M, Deuschle M, Witt SH, Streit F. Psychological, endocrine and polygenic predictors of emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal birth cohort. Stress 2023; 26:2234060. [PMID: 37519130 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2023.2234060] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the lives of families and the well-being of both parents and their children. Various factors, including prenatal stress, dysregulated stress response systems, and genetics may have influenced how the stress caused by the pandemic impacted the well-being of different family members. The present work investigated if emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic could be predicted by developmental stress-related and genetic factors. Emotional well-being of 7-10 year-old children (n = 263) and mothers (n = 241) (participants in a longitudinal German birth cohort (POSEIDON)) was assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic using the CRISIS questionnaire at two time periods (July 2020-October 2020; November 2020-February 2021). Associations of the children's and mothers' well-being with maternal perceived stress, of the children's well-being with their salivary and morning urine cortisol at 45 months, and polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for depression, schizophrenia, loneliness were investigated. Lower emotional well-being was observed in both children and mothers during compared to before the pandemic, with the children's but not the mothers' emotional well-being improving over the course of the pandemic. A positive association between the child and maternal emotional well-being was found. Prenatally assessed maternal perceived stress was associated with a lower well-being in children, but not in mothers. Cortisol measures and PRSs were not significantly associated with the children's emotional well-being. The present study confirms that emotional well-being of children and mothers are linked, and were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with differences in development over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lea Zillich
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Metin Cetin
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alisha S M Hall
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jerome C Foo
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute for Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lea Sirignano
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Josef Frank
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tabea S Send
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Maria Gilles
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Deuschle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Streit
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
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7
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White LK, Himes MM, Waller R, Njoroge WFM, Chaiyachati BH, Barzilay R, Kornfield SL, Burris HH, Seidlitz J, Parish-Morris J, Brady RG, Gerstein ED, Laney N, Gur RE, Duncan AF. The Influence of Pandemic-Related Worries During Pregnancy on Child Development at 12 Months. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023:10.1007/s10578-023-01605-x. [PMID: 37805964 PMCID: PMC10999505 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01605-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased risk for perinatal anxiety and depression among parents, as well as negative consequences for child development. Less is known about how worries arising from the pandemic during pregnancy are related to later child development, nor if resilience factors buffer negative consequences. The current study addresses this question in a prospective longitudinal design. Data was collected from a sub-study (n = 184) of a longitudinal study of pregnant individuals (total n = 1173). During pregnancy (April 17-July 8, 2020) and the early postpartum period (August 11, 2020-March 2, 2021), participants completed online surveys. At 12 months postpartum (June 17, 2021-March 23, 2022), participants completed online surveys and a virtual laboratory visit, which included parent-child interaction tasks. We found more pregnancy-specific pandemic worries were prospectively related to lower levels of child socioemotional development based on parent report (B = - 1.13, SE = .43, p = .007) and observer ratings (B = - 0.13, SE = .07, p = .045), but not to parent-reported general developmental milestones. Parental emotion regulation in the early postpartum period moderated the association between pregnancy-specific pandemic worries and child socioemotional development such that pregnancy-specific pandemic worries did not relate to worse child socioemotional development among parents with high (B = - .02, SE = .10, t = - .14, p = .89) levels of emotion regulation. Findings suggest the negative consequences of parental worry and distress during pregnancy on the early socioemotional development of children in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results highlight that parental emotion regulation may represent a target for intervention to promote parental resilience and support optimized child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K White
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Megan M Himes
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rebecca Waller
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wanjikũ F M Njoroge
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Policy Lab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Barbara H Chaiyachati
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Policy Lab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ran Barzilay
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sara L Kornfield
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Center for Women's Behavioral Wellness, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Heather H Burris
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jakob Seidlitz
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Julia Parish-Morris
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca G Brady
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emily D Gerstein
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 325 Stadler Hall, 1 University Blvd., St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Nina Laney
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Raquel E Gur
- Lifespan Brain Institute, 3400 Spruce St. 10th floor, Gates Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrea F Duncan
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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8
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Phua DY, Chew CSM, Tan YL, Ng BJK, Lee FKL, Tham MMY. Differential effects of prenatal psychological distress and positive mental health on offspring socioemotional development from infancy to adolescence: a meta-analysis. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1221232. [PMID: 37780045 PMCID: PMC10536167 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1221232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree Y. Phua
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chermaine S. M. Chew
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yang Lik Tan
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- School of Management and Communication, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin J. K. Ng
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- School of Management and Communication, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Florence K. L. Lee
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- School of Management and Communication, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Megan M. Y. Tham
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- School of Management and Communication, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore
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9
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Khoury JE, Atkinson L, Jack S, Bennett T, Raha S, Duku E, Gonzalez A. Protocol for the COVID-19 Wellbeing and Stress Study: a longitudinal study of parent distress, biological stress and child biopsychosocial development during the pandemic and beyond. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071926. [PMID: 37580092 PMCID: PMC10432660 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic has had a unique impact on the mental health and well-being of pregnant individuals and parents of young children. However, the impact of COVID-19-related stress during pregnancy on early child biopsychosocial development, remains unclear. The COVID-19 Wellbeing and Stress Study will: (1) investigate the impact of different forms of prenatal stress experienced during the pandemic (including objective hardship, perceived psychological distress and biological stress) on child stress biology, (2) examine the association between child stress biology and child developmental outcomes, (3) determine whether child stress biology acts as a mechanism linking prenatal stress to adverse child developmental outcomes and (4) assess whether gestational age at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic or child sex, moderate these associations. METHODS AND ANALYSES The COVID-19 Wellbeing and Stress Study is a prospective longitudinal study, consisting of six time points, spanning from pregnancy to 3 years postpartum. The study began in June 2020, consisting of 304 pregnant people from Ontario, Canada. This multimethod study is composed of questionnaires, biological samples, behavioural observations and developmental assessments ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (#11034) and the Mount Saint Vincent University Research Ethics Board (#2020-187, #2021-075, #2022-008). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed presentations and publications, community presentations, and electronic forums (social media, newsletters and website postings).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Khoury
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Leslie Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan Jack
- School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Teresa Bennett
- Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandeep Raha
- Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Duku
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Pearson J, Fréchette-Boilard G, Baudry C, Matte-Gagné C, Bernier A, Lemelin JP, Tarabulsy GM. Prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and birth outcomes: Is the newborn spared? Infant Behav Dev 2023; 72:101866. [PMID: 37506422 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2023.101866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated numerous stressors among the general population, but more specifically in pregnant women because of disruptions in prenatal care and delivery conditions. Studies suggest that prenatal maternal stress increased during the pandemic (Berthelot et al., 2020; Perzow et al., 2021; Tomfohr-Madsen et al., 2021). Considering what is known about the fetal programming potential of prenatal maternal stress, several researchers, early in the pandemic, raised concerns over the significant negative consequences that the pandemic context could have on birth outcomes. Studies comparing birth outcomes during versus before the pandemic suggest a marginal increase in birthweight and a significant decrease in preterm birth (Yang et al., 2022), but individual variations in prenatal maternal stress during the pandemic have received less attention. The objective of the present study is to examine the association between prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and birth outcomes. During pregnancy, 195 expecting mothers reported on their general and pandemic-related stress. When their child was 6 months old, mothers completed a questionnaire collecting information on birth outcomes (gestational age, birthweight, head circumference and Apgar scores). Hierarchical linear regressions show that none of the maternal prenatal stress variables significantly predicted variations in birth outcomes. Potential pandemic-related protective factors (e.g., changes in life and hygiene habits, rest imposed by lockdowns) and the need to offer support to pregnant women are discussed.
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Nazzari S, Cagliero L, Grumi S, Pisoni E, Mallucci G, Bergamaschi R, Maccarini J, Giorda R, Provenzi L. Prenatal exposure to environmental air pollution and psychosocial stress jointly contribute to the epigenetic regulation of the serotonin transporter gene in newborns. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3503-3511. [PMID: 37542161 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02206-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Antenatal exposures to maternal stress and to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) have been independently associated with developmental outcomes in early infancy and beyond. Knowledge about their joint impact, biological mechanisms of their effects and timing-effects, is still limited. Both PM2.5 and maternal stress exposure during pregnancy might result in altered patterns of DNA methylation in specific stress-related genes, such as the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4 DNAm), that might, in turn, influence infant development across several domains, including bio-behavioral, cognitive and socio-emotional domains. Here, we investigated the independent and interactive influence of variations in antenatal exposures to maternal pandemic-related stress (PRS) and PM2.5 on SLC6A4 DNAm levels in newborns. Mother-infant dyads (N = 307) were enrolled at delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infants' methylation status was assessed in 13 CpG sites within the SLC6A4 gene's region (chr17:28562750-28562958) in buccal cells at birth and women retrospectively report on PRS. PM2.5 exposure throughout the entire gestation and at each gestational trimester was estimated using a spatiotemporal model based on residential address. Among several potentially confounding socio-demographic and health-related factors, infant's sex was significantly associated with infants' SLC6A4 DNAm levels, thus hierarchical regression models were adjusted for infant's sex. Higher levels of SLC6A4 DNAm at 6 CpG sites were found in newborns born to mothers reporting higher levels of antenatal PRS and greater PM2.5 exposure across gestation, while adjusting for infant's sex. These effects were especially evident when exposure to elevated PM2.5 occurred during the second trimester of pregnancy. Several important brain processes (e.g., synaptogenesis and myelination) occur during mid-pregnancy, potentially making the second trimester a sensitive time window for the effects of stress-related exposures. Understanding the interplay between environmental and individual-level stressors has important implications for the improvement of mother-infant health during and after the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nazzari
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lucia Cagliero
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Grumi
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Enrico Pisoni
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Giulia Mallucci
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Neurocenter of South of Switzerland, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
| | | | - Julia Maccarini
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Giorda
- Molecular Biology Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
- Developmental Psychobiology Lab, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
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12
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Morden MV, Ferris EJE, Furtmann J. The socioemotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant and postpartum people: a qualitative study. CMAJ Open 2023; 11:E716-E724. [PMID: 37582623 PMCID: PMC10435243 DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20220178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The social isolation and safety measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic differentially burdened pregnant and postpartum people, disrupting health care and social support systems. We sought to understand the experiences of people navigating pre- and postnatal care, from pregnancy through to the early postpartum period, during the pandemic. METHODS In this qualitative investigation, we conducted semistructured interviews with people residing in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, during the second half of pregnancy and again at 4-6 weeks' post partum between June 2020 and July 2021. Interviews were conducted remotely (via Zoom or telephone) and focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pre- and postnatal care, birth and labour planning, and the birthing experience. We used content and thematic analysis to analyze the data, and checked patterns using NVivo. RESULTS We interviewed 19 people during the second half of pregnancy and 18 of these people at 4-6 weeks' post partum. We identified 7 themes/subthemes describing how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their experiences: disrupted support systems, isolation, disrupted health care experiences (pre- and postnatal care, and labour and birth/hospital protocols), violated social norms (including typical rituals such as baby showers), impact on mental health and unexpected benefits (such as a no-visitor policy in hospitals after the birth, which provided a quiet period to bond with baby). INTERPRETATION Pregnant and postpartum people were uniquely vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic and would have benefited from increased access to support in both health care and social settings. Future work should investigate maternal and infant/child functioning and behaviour to assess the long-term impact of the pandemic on Canadian families and developing children, with an aim to increase support where necessary.
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Morris AR, Saxbe DE. Differences in infant negative affectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infant Ment Health J 2023; 44:466-479. [PMID: 37218428 PMCID: PMC10783853 DOI: 10.1002/imhj.22061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This longitudinal study compared infant temperament rated at 3 months postpartum by 263 United-States-based women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic and 72 who gave birth prior to the pandemic. All women completed questionnaires assessing perinatal mental health, social contact, and infant temperament. Mothers whose infants were born during the pandemic reported higher levels of infant negative affectivity as compared with mothers whose infants were born earlier (F(1, 324) = 18.28, p < .001), but did not differ in their ratings of surgency or effortful control. Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms, prenatal stress, and postpartum stress mediated differences in infant negative affectivity between pandemic and pre-pandemic groups. Within the pandemic group, decreased postpartum social contact was associated with higher ratings of infant negative affectivity. These findings suggest that the pandemic has affected maternal perceptions of infant temperament, perinatal mental health, and social contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa R Morris
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Darby E Saxbe
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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14
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Hu YY, Ding XS, Yang G, Liang XS, Feng L, Sun YY, Chen R, Ma QH. Analysis of the influences of social isolation on cognition and the therapeutic potential of deep brain stimulation in a mouse model. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1186073. [PMID: 37409161 PMCID: PMC10318365 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1186073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social interaction is a fundamental human need. Social isolation (SI) can have negative effects on both emotional and cognitive function. However, it is currently unclear how age and the duration of SI affect emotion and recognition function. In addition, there is no specific treatment for the effects of SI. Methods The adolescence or adult mice were individually housed in cages for 1, 6 or 12 months and for 2 months to estabolish SI mouse model. We investigated the effects of SI on behavior in mice at different ages and under distinct durations of SI, and we explored the possible underlying mechanisms. Then we performed deep brain stimulation (DBS) to evaluate its influences on SI induced behavioral abnormalities. Results We found that social recognition was affected in the short term, while social preference was damaged by extremely long periods of SI. In addition to affecting social memory, SI also affects emotion, short-term spatial ability and learning willingness in mice. Myelin was decreased significantly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and dorsal hippocampus of socially isolated mice. Cellular activity in response to social stimulation in both areas was impaired by social isolation. By stimulating the mPFC using DBS, we found that DBS alleviated cellular activation disorders in the mPFC after long-term SI and improved social preference in mice. Conclusion Our results suggest that the therapeutic potential of stimulating the mPFC with DBS in individuals with social preference deficits caused by long-term social isolation, as well as the effects of DBS on the cellular activity and density of OPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Yun Hu
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sleep Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xuan-Si Ding
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Lab Center, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xue-Song Liang
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Second Clinical College, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Lei Feng
- Monash Suzhou Research Institute, Suzhou, China
| | - Yan-Yun Sun
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sleep Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Quan-Hong Ma
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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15
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López-Morales H, Del-Valle MV, López MC, Andrés ML, García MJ, Canet-Juric L, Urquijo S. Maternal anxiety, exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic and socioemotional development of offspring. JOURNAL OF APPLIED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 86:101517. [PMID: 36748034 PMCID: PMC9892320 DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic context may predispose mothers to increased maternal psychopathology, which may be associated with offspring socioemotional development. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between prenatal anxiety and depression and exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic with offspring socioemotional development, controlling for postnatal anxiety and depression. A total of 105 mother-child dyads were assessed in pre- and postnatal periods. Questionnaires were used to assess the impact of the pandemic, indicators of psychopathology, and the socioemotional development of the offspring. Results suggest that negative pandemic experiences are indirectly associated with offspring socioemotional development via prenatal maternal anxiety symptomatology and after controlling for postnatal anxiety and depression. These indicators predispose to emotional deficits and increase the risks of psychopathological and neurodevelopmental disorders. It is important to adopt health policies that provide timely assessment of development in early childhood to reduce the risks associated with these deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hernán López-Morales
- Instituto de Psicología Básica Aplicada y Tecnología (IPSIBAT), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
- Escuela Superior de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Macarena Verónica Del-Valle
- Instituto de Psicología Básica Aplicada y Tecnología (IPSIBAT), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Marcela Carolina López
- Instituto de Psicología Básica Aplicada y Tecnología (IPSIBAT), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - María Laura Andrés
- Instituto de Psicología Básica Aplicada y Tecnología (IPSIBAT), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Matías Jonás García
- Instituto de Psicología Básica Aplicada y Tecnología (IPSIBAT), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Lorena Canet-Juric
- Instituto de Psicología Básica Aplicada y Tecnología (IPSIBAT), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Sebastián Urquijo
- Instituto de Psicología Básica Aplicada y Tecnología (IPSIBAT), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMDP), Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
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16
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Berthelot N, Garon-Bissonnette J, Drouin-Maziade C, Bergeron V, Sériès T. STEP-COVID: a pilot study of a prenatal intervention for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6466. [PMID: 37081093 PMCID: PMC10116444 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33369-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a global increase in psychological distress in pregnant women. This study evaluated the effects of STEP-COVID, a six-session mentalization-based prenatal group program offered online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 100 participants were allocated to STEP-COVID or to the natural trajectory of prenatal care. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included measures of psychological distress, post-traumatic symptoms and positive affectivity. Perception of change during pregnancy on resilience-promoting factors was also assessed at post-intervention. A significant decrease in psychological distress and post-traumatic symptoms and an increase in positive affectivity were observed in participants in the intervention condition, whereas only post-traumatic symptoms improved in the control condition. Women who participated in STEP-COVID also reported greater changes during pregnancy on resilience-promoting factors than women in the control condition. Results hold promise for buffering the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of pregnant women using brief online interventions. Clinical trial registration: NCT05419167 (15/06/2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Berthelot
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada.
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Julia Garon-Bissonnette
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christine Drouin-Maziade
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
| | - Vanessa Bergeron
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thibaut Sériès
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
- Centre d'études interdisciplinaires sur le développement de l'enfant et la famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche et d'intervention auprès des enfants vulnérables et négligés (GRIN), Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
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Khoury JE, Jambon M, Giles L, Atkinson L, Gonzalez A. Trajectories of distress from pregnancy to 15-months post-partum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1104386. [PMID: 37063573 PMCID: PMC10102331 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1104386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has particularly burdened pregnant and postpartum women. It remains unclear how distress levels of pregnant and postpartum people have changed (or persisted) as the pandemic continues on and which factors may contribute to these trajectories of distress.MethodsThis longitudinal study included 304 pregnant people, who were followed during pregnancy, 6-weeks, 6-months and 15-months postpartum. At each time point, a latent “distress” factor was estimated using self-reported depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress. Reported negative impact of COVID-19 and social support were assessed during pregnancy as risk and protective factors related to distress. Second-order latent growth curve modeling with a piecewise growth function was used to estimate initial levels and changes in distress over time.ResultsMean distress was relatively stable from the pregnancy to 6-weeks postpartum and then declined from 6-weeks to 15-months postpartum. Higher education, greater social support, and lower negative impact of COVID-19 were associated with a lower distress during pregnancy. Unexpectedly, negative impact of COVID-19 was associated with a faster decrease in distress and more social support was associated with a greater increase in distress from pregnancy to 6-weeks postpartum. However, these effects became non-significant after controlling for distress during pregnancy.ConclusionFindings indicate high but declining levels of distress from pregnancy to the postpartum period. Changes in distress are related to social support and the negative impact of the pandemic in pregnancy. Findings highlight the continued impact of COVID-19 on perinatal mental health and the need for support to limit the burden of this pandemic on pregnant people and families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E. Khoury
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jennifer E. Khoury,
| | - Marc Jambon
- Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren Giles
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Leslie Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Metropolitan Toronto University, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Andrea Gonzalez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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18
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White LK, Himes MM, Waller R, Njoroge WFM, Chaiyachati BH, Barzilay R, Kornfield SL, Burris HH, Seidlitz J, Parish-Morris J, Brady RG, Gerstein ED, Laney N, Gur RE, Duncan A. The Influence of Pandemic-Related Worries During Pregnancy on Child Development at 12 Months. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2682358. [PMID: 36993329 PMCID: PMC10055645 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2682358/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased risk for perinatal anxiety and depression among parents, as well as negative consequences for child development. Less is known about how worries arising from the pandemic during pregnancy are related to later child development, nor if resilience factors buffer negative consequences. The current study addresses this question in a prospective longitudinal design. Data was collected from a sub-study ( n = 184) of a longitudinal study of pregnant individuals (total n = 1,173). During pregnancy (April 17-July 8, 2020) and the early postpartum period (August 11, 2020-March 2, 2021), participants completed online surveys. At 12 months postpartum (June 17, 2021-March 23, 2022), participants completed online surveys and a virtual laboratory visit, which included parent-child interaction tasks. We found more pregnancy-specific pandemic worries were prospectively related to lower levels of child socioemotional development based on parent report (B=-1.13, SE = .43, p = .007) and observer ratings (B=-0.13, SE = .07, p = .045), but not to parent-reported general developmental milestones. Parental emotion regulation in the early postpartum period moderated the association between pregnancy-specific pandemic worries and child socioemotional development such that pregnancy-specific pandemic worries did not related to worse child socioemotional development among parents with high (B=-.02, SE = .10, t=-.14, p = .89) levels of emotion regulation. Findings suggest the negative consequences of parental worry and distress during pregnancy on the early socioemotional development of children in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results highlight that parental emotion regulation may represent a target for intervention to promote parental resilience and support optimized child development.
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Pinheiro GSMA, de Souza RC, de Oliveira Azevedo VMG, Guimarães NS, Pires LG, Lemos SMA, Alves CRL. Effects of intrauterine exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on infants' development: a rapid review and meta-analysis. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:2041-2055. [PMID: 36899144 PMCID: PMC10005921 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-04910-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Potential medium- and long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy have not been ruled out. We aimed to systematically review and summarize the evidence regarding the effects of intrauterine exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on infant development and behavior. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycNet databases were searched for studies published up to February 6, 2023, investigating the effects of gestational SARS-CoV-2 on infant development and behavior. We performed narrative synthesis according to updated protocols. Studies using comparison groups and with the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-Third Edition (ASQ-3) scores available were included in a meta-analysis performed according to Cochrane protocols. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale to analyze the risk of bias. Heterogeneity was calculated using the I2 statistic. The search identified 2,782 studies. After removing duplicates and applying the eligibility criteria, we performed a narrative synthesis of 10 included studies and a meta-analysis of three. There was no evidence of higher developmental delay rates in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy compared to non-exposed infants. However, the exposed infants scored lower than either the non-exposed children or pre-pandemic cohorts in some domains. Pooled results from the random-effects model indicated that SARS-CoV-2-exposed infants had lower scores on fine motor (mean difference [MD] = -4.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -8.76; -0.63), and problem-solving (MD = -3.05, 95% CI: -5.88; -0.22) domains than non-exposed infants (heterogeneity: I2 = 69% and 88%, respectively). There was no difference between the exposed and non-exposed infants in the communication, gross motor, and personal-social ASQ-3 domains. Conclusion: We did not find evidence confirming the association between SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure and neurodevelopmental delays. However, the meta-analysis indicated that gestational exposure negatively affected fine motor and problem-solving skills. Robust evidence on this topic is still incipient, and the available studies present methodological inconsistencies that limit the drawing of clear-cut conclusions. PROSPERO registration: #CRD42022308002; March 14, 2022. What is Known: • COVID-19 is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes potentially linked to neurodevelopmental delays. • SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission is rare; however, infections during pregnancy can be deleterious to the fetus, possibly mediated by maternal immune activation and other inflammatory mechanisms. What is New: • No evidence of increased developmental delay rates among SARS-CoV-2 gestational-exposed infants was found. However, a meta-analysis of three studies showed lower scores in fine motor and personal social ASQ-3 domains among exposed infants. • SARS-CoV-2 gestational exposure and the pandemic can affect child development via many mechanisms. Potential neurodevelopmental sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 exposure during gestation have not been ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rayany Cristina de Souza
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Medicine School, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | | | - Laura Gregório Pires
- Medicine School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Stela Maris Aguiar Lemos
- Speech Therapy and Audiology Department, Medicine School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Claudia Regina Lindgren Alves
- Pediatrics Department, Medicine School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Alfredo Balena, 190/247, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130100, Brazil.
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20
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Yang X, Zhang J, Cao M, Pan Y, Zhang Y. Application of e-health on neonatal intensive care unit discharged preterm infants and their parents: Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231205271. [PMID: 37822959 PMCID: PMC10563470 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231205271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background After preterm birth, parents often conformed with difficulties such as negative emotions, lack of care knowledge and skills, and insufficient professional support. As a remote health guidance method, e-health can provide a series of support for premature infants and their parents during the transition period from neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home care. Objectives To determine the efficacy of e-health interventions in discharged preterm infants as well as their parents, and to describe the process outcomes and elements of these e-health interventions to inform the effective design of future interventions. Methods The systematic review of the randomized and non-randomized controlled trials on the follow-up effect of e-health on preterm infants and their parents discharged from NICU between the inception to May 2023 will be electronically searched in the following nine databases: Web of Science, CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG DATA, and SinoMed. Quality will be appraised, respectively, via the revised tool to assess risk of bias (RoB 2) and the tool for risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I). The main outcome indicators of preterm infants are breastfeeding rate, readmission rate, neurobehavioral development, and premature infant's body mass. The outcome indicators for parents of premature infants are anxiety, depression scale, and parenting competency scale. The RevMan 5.4 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration will be used for statistical analysis of the data. Conclusion The results of this study may provide future development opportunities for e-health follow-up prevention in preterm infants and may support evidence-based decision-making for e-health interventions of post-discharge developmental support in preterm infants. PROSPERO registration number CRD42023410334.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Yang
- School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Mi Cao
- School of Nursing, Hubei Polytechnic Institute, Xiaogan, PR China
| | - Yujie Pan
- School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Yijia Zhang
- School of Nursing, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
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21
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Nazzari S, Grumi S, Biasucci G, Decembrino L, Fazzi E, Giacchero R, Magnani ML, Nacinovich R, Scelsa B, Spinillo A, Capelli E, Roberti E, Provenzi L. Maternal pandemic-related stress during pregnancy associates with infants' socio-cognitive development at 12 months: A longitudinal multi-centric study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284578. [PMID: 37068062 PMCID: PMC10109481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal stress is a key risk factor for infants' development. Previous research has highlighted consequences for infants' socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes, but less is known for what regards socio-cognitive development. In this study, we report on the effects of maternal prenatal stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic on 12-month-old infants' behavioral markers of socio-cognitive development. METHODS Ninety infants and their mothers provided complete longitudinal data from birth to 12 months. At birth, mothers reported on pandemic-related stress during pregnancy. At infants' 12-month-age, a remote mother-infant interaction was videotaped: after an initial 2-min face-to-face episode, the experimenter remotely played a series of four auditory stimuli (2 human and 2 non-human sounds). The auditory stimuli sequence was counterbalanced among participants and each sound was repeated three times every 10 seconds (Exposure, 30 seconds) while mothers were instructed not to interact with their infants and to display a neutral still-face expression. Infants' orienting, communication, and pointing toward the auditory source was coded micro-analytically and a socio-cognitive score (SCS) was obtained by means of a principal component analysis. RESULTS Infants equally oriented to human and non-human auditory stimuli. All infants oriented toward the sound during the Exposure episode, 80% exhibited any communication directed to the auditory source, and 48% showed at least one pointing toward the sound. Mothers who reported greater prenatal pandemic-related stress had infants with higher probability of showing no communication, t = 2.14 (p = .035), or pointing, t = 1.93 (p = .057). A significant and negative linear association was found between maternal prenatal pandemic-related stress and infants' SCS at 12 months, R2 = .07 (p = .010), while adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that prenatal maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic might have increased the risk of an altered socio-cognitive development in infants as assessed through an observational paradigm at 12 months. Special preventive attention should be devoted to infants born during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nazzari
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Grumi
- Developmental Psychobiology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Biasucci
- Pediatrics & Neonatology Unit, Ospedale Guglielmo da Saliceto, Piacenza, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Fazzi
- Department of Clinical And Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Unit of Child and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry, Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | - Renata Nacinovich
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori Monza, Monza, Italy
- School of Medicine and Surgery and Milan Center for Neuroscience (NeuroMi), Università Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Scelsa
- Unit of Pediatric Neurology, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Arsenio Spinillo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Capelli
- Developmental Psychobiology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Roberti
- Developmental Psychobiology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Livio Provenzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Developmental Psychobiology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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22
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González-Ortiz M, Castro P, Vergara-Barra P, Huerta P, Escudero C. COVID-19 on Pregnancy Outcomes, Mental Health and Placenta: Focus in Latin America. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1428:269-285. [PMID: 37466778 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32554-0_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many aspects of health and society worldwide. One vulnerable group that faced SARS-CoV-2 infection is pregnant women, who were considered to have potentiated risk factors. In physiological pregnancy, maternal systems have several changes and adaptations to support fetal development. These changes involve regulations of cardiovascular, respiratory, and immunologic systems, among others, which SARS-CoV-2 could severely alter. Furthermore, the systemic effects of viral infection could be associated with placental dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcomes, which have been studied from the start of the pandemic to date. Additionally, pregnancy is a condition of more significant mental health vulnerability, especially when faced with highly stressful situations. In this chapter, we have collected information on the effect of COVID-19 on maternal mortality, the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in pregnancy, and the impact on pregnancy outcomes, maternal mental health, and placental function, with a particular focus on studies that consider the Latin American population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo González-Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Investigación Materno-Fetal (LIMaF), Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
- Group of Research and Innovation in Vascular Health (GRIVAS), Chillán, Chile.
| | - Patricio Castro
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo Vergara-Barra
- Departamento de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Programa de Neurociencias, Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (NEPSAM), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Patricia Huerta
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Carlos Escudero
- Group of Research and Innovation in Vascular Health (GRIVAS), Chillán, Chile
- Group of Research and Innovation in Vascular Health (GRIVAS), Chillán, Chile
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23
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Xiong Y, Hong H, Liu C, Zhang YQ. Social isolation and the brain: effects and mechanisms. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:191-201. [PMID: 36434053 PMCID: PMC9702717 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01835-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An obvious consequence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the worldwide reduction in social interaction, which is associated with many adverse effects on health in humans from babies to adults. Although social development under normal or isolated environments has been studied since the 1940s, the mechanism underlying social isolation (SI)-induced brain dysfunction remains poorly understood, possibly due to the complexity of SI in humans and translational gaps in findings from animal models. Herein, we present a systematic review that focused on brain changes at the molecular, cellular, structural and functional levels induced by SI at different ages and in different animal models. SI studies in humans and animal models revealed common socioemotional and cognitive deficits caused by SI in early life and an increased occurrence of depression and anxiety induced by SI during later stages of life. Altered neurotransmission and neural circuitry as well as abnormal development and function of glial cells in specific brain regions may contribute to the abnormal emotions and behaviors induced by SI. We highlight distinct alterations in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation and oligodendrocyte maturation caused by SI in early life and later stages of life, respectively, which may affect neural circuit formation and function and result in diverse brain dysfunctions. To further bridge animal and human SI studies, we propose alternative animal models with brain structures and complex social behaviors similar to those of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiong
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Huilin Hong
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Cirong Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China ,grid.511008.dShanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, 201210 China
| | - Yong Q. Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
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