Title: Stress and pregnancy: Effects on child behavioural and cognitive outcomes | Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development
Headings: Stress and pregnancy (prenatal and perinatal)
Stress and pregnancy (prenatal and perinatal)
The Effects of Prenatal Stress on Child Behavioural and Cognitive Outcomes Start at the Beginning
Introduction
Subject and Research Context
Key Research Questions
Recent Research Results
Research Gaps
Conclusions
Implications for Parents, Services and Policy
References

Content: 2
Subject and Research Context
Many groups around the world are studying how the emotional state of the mother during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the psychological development of her child. 3-4 Some are using large population cohorts, which have the advantage of being able to statistically allow for many confounding factors including postnatal maternal mood. 5 Others are smaller observational studies which can examine the child in more detail. 6 Stress is a generic term which includes anxiety and depression, but also includes distress due to poor relationships or the response to an acute disaster. All these have been shown to be associated with altered outcome for the child. Key Research Questions
What type and degree of prenatal stress have an effect on the fetus and the child? What are the gestational ages of vulnerability for different outcomes? What are the range of effects on the child and how long do they last? How does prenatal stress interact with genetic vulnerabilities? How are the effects of prenatal stress moderated by the nature of the postnatal care.