Maternal antenatal anxiety and children's behavioural/emotional problems at 4 years

TLDR

Animal experiments suggest that maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy have long‑term effects on offspring behaviour. The study tests whether antenatal maternal anxiety predicts behavioural problems at age 4. Data were collected from 7,448 children, including multiple antenatal and postnatal assessments of maternal anxiety, depression, obstetric risks, psychosocial risks, and child behavioural/emotional problems. Antenatal maternal anxiety was associated with increased behavioural/emotional problems in both boys (OR = 2.14) and girls (OR = 1.88), and remained predictive after adjusting for postnatal anxiety, indicating a direct effect on fetal brain development.

Abstract

Background Animal experiments suggest that maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy have long-term effects on the behaviour of the off spring. Aims To test the hypothesis that antenatal maternal anxiety predicts behavioural problems at age 4 years. Method Data were collected on multiple antenatal and postnatal assessments of maternal anxiety and depression, antenatal and obstetric risks, psychosocial risks and children's behavioural/emotional problems (n=7448). Results Antenatal maternal anxiety predicted behavioural/emotional problems in boys (OR=2.14,95% CI 1.48−3.10) and girls (OR=1.88,95% CI 1.3–2.69) after accounting for covariates. When covarying maternal anxiety up to 33 months postnatally, antenatal anxiety continued to predict total problems in boys (OR=1.56,95% CI 1.02–2.41) and girls (OR=1.5l, 95% CI 1.22–2.81). Conclusions There could be a direct effect of maternal mood on foetal brain development, which affects the behavioural development of the child.