Study claims that children develop behavioural issues if mothers experience high stress during pregnancy

New research has established a connection between the stress and anxiety levels experienced by mothers during pregnancy and the behavioral issues observed in their children.

 

Published by the American Psychological Association, the study reveals that children whose mothers underwent increased levels of stress during pregnancy display aggressive behavior and a lack of mental well-being throughout childhood and adolescence.

 

The study, conducted by Irene Tung, PhD, of California State University, Dominguez Hills, suggests that psychological distress during pregnancy has a small but persistent impact on children’s risk for aggressive, disinhibited, and impulsive behaviors. The findings emphasize the importance of widely accessible mental health care and support during pregnancy as a crucial step in preventing childhood behavior problems.

 

The research involved the analysis of data from 55 studies, encompassing over 45,000 participants. Researchers specifically examined instances where mothers’ psychological distress was assessed during and after pregnancy. Even after accounting for later postnatal distress, experiencing distress during pregnancy increased the risk of children developing externalizing problems. This effect remained consistent for both boys and girls across different age groups: early childhood (2–5), middle childhood (6–12), and adolescence (13–18), with the strongest impact observed in early childhood.

 

The results align with theories proposing that exposure to stress hormones in utero can influence children’s brain development. Tung recommends future research to diversify samples, exploring cultural and socioeconomic factors influencing prenatal stress, and to develop effective interventions.

 

She emphasizes the need to move beyond existing research focused on white, middle-class, and higher-educated samples, considering experiences of racism, economic disparities, and lack of healthcare access as known contributors to stress during pregnancy. Understanding how psychological distress during pregnancy impacts underrepresented families is essential for developing equitable public health policies and interventions.