Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Predicts Cognitive Ability and Fearfulness in Infancy

Bergman, Kristin; Sarkar, Pampa; O’Connor, Thomas G.; Modi, Neena; Glover, Vivette

doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e31814a62f6

Cited by 381 publications

(314 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to maternal stress during intrauterine life may result in an increased propensity of the offspring to develop behavioral or emotional problems (Buss et al, 2012), as well as cognitive developmental delays (Bergman et al, 2007; Buss et al, 2011; Glover, 2015). Importantly, these prenatally programmed offspring phenotypes may also influence the mothers’ reaction to the child, an aspect of the reciprocal mother-offspring relationship that is oftentimes underestimated.…”

Section: Ot Pathways In the Intergenerational Transmission Of Matementioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin pathways in the intergenerational transmission of maternal early life stress

Toepfer

Heim

Entringer

et al. 2017

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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Severe stress in early life, such as childhood abuse and neglect, constitutes a major risk factor in the etiology of psychiatric disorders and somatic diseases. Importantly, these long-term effects may impact the next generation. The intergenerational transmission of maternal early life stress (ELS) may occur via pre-and postnatal pathways, such as alterations in maternal-fetal-placental stress physiology, maternal depression during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as impaired mother-offspring interactions. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has gained considerable attention for its role in modulating all of these assumed transmission pathways. Moreover, central and peripheral OT signaling pathways are highly sensitive to environmental exposures and may be compromised by ELS with implications for these putative transmission mechanisms. Together, these data suggest that OT pathways play an important role in the intergenerational transmission of maternal ELS in humans. By integrating recent studies on gene-environment interactions and epigenetic modifications in OT pathway genes, the present review aims to develop a conceptual framework of intergenerational transmission of maternal ELS that emphasizes the role of OT.

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Section: Ot Pathways In the Intergenerational Transmission Of Matementioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin pathways in the intergenerational transmission of maternal early life stress

Toepfer

Heim

Entringer

et al. 2017

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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“…Accumulating evidence indicates that the cognitive development of a child is related to the level of anxiety or stress experienced by its mother during pregnancy (e.g., Brouwers et al, 2001;Laplante et al, 2004;Bergman et al, 2007). However, most studies used the Bailey Scales of Infant Development or school results to assess cognitive abilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental brain alterations in 17 year old boys are related to antenatal maternal anxiety

Mennes

Bergh

Lagae

et al. 2009

Clinical Neurophysiology

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General rightsCopyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.-Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research -You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain -You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright, please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. a b s t r a c tObjective: To assess the association between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and the brain activity of 17 year old adolescents performing two cognitive control tasks. Methods: Twenty-three 17 year old boys of mothers whose level of anxiety was measured during pregnancy were investigated using ERP while performing a Go/Nogo paradigm assessing exogenous cognitive control and a Gambling paradigm requiring endogenous cognitive control. Results: No effects of antenatal maternal anxiety were observed in the Go/Nogo paradigm. However, in the Gambling paradigm adolescents of the high anxiety group (n = 8) showed a less efficient pattern of decision making compared to the adolescents in the low-average anxiety group (n = 15). Moreover, only for this task the ERP data showed an enlarged early frontal P2a component in the high anxiety group. Conclusions: The brain activity of adolescents during an endogenous cognitive control task is associated to the level of anxiety experienced by their mother during pregnancy. This association was not observed during an exogenous cognitive control task. Significance: This study indicates that a child's brain functionality is related to its mother's anxiety during pregnancy. Endogenous cognitive control is regarded the cognitive function most affected by the level of antenatal maternal anxiety.

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“…Also, numerous studies focus on the undesirable effects of antenatal stress on the developing fetus. These effects include preterm birth [4] , low birth weight [5] , reduced cognitive ability [6] , increased incidence of respiratory and skin disease in early life and elevated awakening cortisol levels.…”

Section: [1]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Benson's Relaxation Therapy: Its effect on Stress and Coping among Mothers with High Risk Pregnancy

Elsayed¹

2017

IJND

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Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Benson's relaxation therapy on stress and coping among mothers with high risk pregnancy. Methods: Design: A quasi -experimental Pre-Post-test design. Sample type: Purposive sampling was applied. Setting: The study was carried out at High Risk Pregnancy Unit in Mansoura University Hospital on 50 mothers with high risk pregnancy between 24 to 36 weeks of gestation in a period from October, 2016 to March, 2017. Tools: A Structured Interviewing Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and Coping Patterns Scale. Results:The average score of stress scale was significantly decreased post-intervention (13.84 ± 2.53) compared to (24.62± 2.84) preintervention and the average scores of all domains of coping were significantly improved post-intervention (P = 0.001). There was a significant difference between the average score of stress scale with education of the mothers pre-intervention (P = 0.001) and it was eliminated postintervention. Also, there was a significant difference between the average score of coping with stress and gravidity of the mothers preintervention (p = 0.05) and it was eliminated post-intervention. There was a significant negative moderate correlation between total stress score and total coping score pre and post-intervention (r = -0.511, r = -0.651, p = 0.001, respectively) that it means when the stress decreases, the coping is better. Conclusion: It has been proved that the Benson's relaxation therapy serves as a resource for improving maternal psychological health by reducing stress and enhancing coping among high risk pregnant mothers. Recommendation: The maternity nursing services are recommended to use the Benson relaxation therapy as one of the standard nonpharmacological managements in a high risk unit.

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Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Predicts Cognitive Ability and Fearfulness in Infancy

Cited by 381 publications

References 42 publications

Oxytocin pathways in the intergenerational transmission of maternal early life stress

Oxytocin pathways in the intergenerational transmission of maternal early life stress

Developmental brain alterations in 17 year old boys are related to antenatal maternal anxiety

Benson's Relaxation Therapy: Its effect on Stress and Coping among Mothers with High Risk Pregnancy

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