The Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Early Child Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Maternal prenatal anxiety is among important public health issues as it may affect child development. However, there are not enough studies to examine the impact of a mother's anxiety on the child's early development, especially up to 1 year.Objective: The present prospective cohort study aimed to examine whether maternal trait anxiety, perceived social support, and COVID-19 related fear impacted speech-language, sensory-motor, and socio-emotional development in 12 months old Serbian infants during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This follow-up study included 142 pregnant women (Time 1) and their children at 12 months (Time 2). Antenatal maternal anxiety and children's development were examined. Maternal anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Child speech-language, sensory-motor, and socio-emotional development were assessed using the developmental scale in the form of an online questionnaire that examined the early psychophysiological child development. Information on socioeconomic factors, child and maternal demographics, clinical factors, and perceived fear of COVID-19 viral infection were collected. Multivariable General Linear Model analysis was conducted, adjusted for demographic, clinical, and coronavirus prenatal experiences, maternal prenatal anxiety levels, perceived social support, speech-language, motor skills, and cognitive and socio-emotional development at the infants' age of 12 months.Results: The study revealed the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal trait anxiety. The association between selected independent factors and infants' development was found in a demographically unified sample except for employment and the number of children. There was a correlation between all observed developmental functions. Univariate General Linear model statistical analysis indicated that linear models with selected independent factors and covariates could account for 30.9% (Cognition) up to 40.6% (Speech-language) of variability in developmental functions. It turned out that two-way and three-way interactions had a dominant role on models, and STAI-T Level and COVID-19 related fear were present in all interaction terms.Conclusion: Our findings reveal important determinants of child developmental outcomes and underline the impact of maternal anxiety on early child development. These findings lay the groundwork for the following interdisciplinary research on pregnancy and child development to facilitate and achieve positive developmental outcomes and maternal mental health.

Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among Pregnant Women during COVID-19: Systematic review-based study

“…The study revealed that premature delivery, height, weight, and head circumference of kids, as well as lungs and respiratory state of children with mental health and stress levels of pregnant women during the corona, are significant compared to previous corona (Nodoushan, Nazari & Alimoradi, 2020). High and moderate levels of trait anxiety during the third trimester of pregnancy (Jelicic, et al, 2021). Negative impacts on healthcare workers' job satisfaction and job-related anxiety for pregnant women during COVID-19 (Bender et al, 2020).…”

“…There was a considerable disparity between the change in getting health care and the concern because mobile applications usage by pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic (OzkanSat & Sozbir, 2021). During COVID-19, high levels of depression, anxiety & stress experiences of prenatal trauma, antenatal attachment, low family income, lack of physical exercise, health anxiety, sleep disorders, low social support, and having a COVID-19 infected person among relatives (Filippetti, Clarke & Rigato, 2022;Stampini et al, 2021;Khazaeian, Khazaeian & Fathnezhad-kazemi, 2021;Ravaldi et al, 2020;Jelicic, et al,2021;Colak et al, 2021;Kajdy et al, 2021&Yu, et al, 2020. High on psychological stress, who are unable to attend the delivery of critical obstetric visits and receive support from friends, family, and birthing classes (Leiker et al, 2021).…”

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Restrictions: Factors That May Affect Perinatal Maternal Mental Health and Implications for Infant Development

“…In Serbia, Jelicic's et al follow up study ( 31 ) showed medium and high levels of maternal anxiety among 142 third-semester pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a high level of perceived social support. The study showed a positive correlation between maternal trait anxiety and child's socio-emotional status at 12 months.…”

Bientraitance en période de crise sanitaire

“…Une étude polonaise publiée en décembre 2021 retrouve une variabilité de 30 à 40 % des fonctions de développement (cognition, langage-parole, etc.) chez des enfants âgés de 1 an nés en ces temps de crise [25] . Une étude israélienne similaire parue en janvier 2022 retrouve des résultats allant dans le même sens [26] .…”