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: 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. How do outcomes vary with different ethnic groups and in different parts of the world? 7
Recent Research Results
Many independent prospective studies have now shown that if a mother is stressed, anxious or depressed while pregnant, her child is at increased risk for having a range of problems, including emotional problems, ADHD, conduct disorder and impaired cognitive development. Both altered brain structure 8 and function 9 have been shown to be associated with prenatal stress, and also the mother’s experience of early childhood trauma. 10 While genetic transmission and the quality of postnatal care are likely to contribute to some of these findings of association, there is good evidence that there is a causal influence of the mother’s emotional state while pregnant also. Some studies have found stronger associations with prenatal maternal mood than paternal.