Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Maternal symptoms of anxiety during pregnancy affect infant neuromotor development: the generation R study
Tamara van Batenburg-Eddes1, Laila de Groot, Anja C Huizink
1The Generation R Study Group and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Several studies found that maternal symptoms of anxiety or depression are related to functioning and development of the offspring. Within a population-based study of 2,724 children, we investigated the effect of maternal anxiety or depression on infant neuromotor development. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured during pregnancy and after giving birth; infant neuromotor development was assessed by trained research nurses during a home visit at the age of 3 months. The current study showed that mothers who were anxious during pregnancy had an elevated risk of having an infant with non-optimal neuromotor development.
Several studies found that maternal symptoms of anxiety or depression are related to functioning and development of the offspring. Within a population-based study of 2,724 children, we investigated the effect of maternal anxiety or depression on infant neuromotor development. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured during pregnancy and after giving birth; infant neuromotor development was assessed by trained research nurses during a home visit at the age of 3 months. The current study showed that mothers who were anxious during pregnancy had an elevated risk of having an infant with non-optimal neuromotor development.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
Exploration...
Attachment
