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Prenatal Maternal Stress Associated with ADHD and Autistic Traits in early Childhood

Angelica Ronald1, Craig E Pennell, Andrew J O Whitehouse

  • 1Department of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London London, UK.

Frontiers in Psychology
|August 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Maternal stress during pregnancy is linked to neurodevelopmental issues. This study found prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is associated with autistic traits and ADHD behaviors in 2-year-olds, even after controlling for other factors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is a potential risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Previous studies lacked control for confounding factors.
  • No prior research examined PNMS as a risk factor for early childhood autistic traits and ADHD behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between PNMS and behaviors characteristic of autism and ADHD in early childhood.
  • To prospectively assess the impact of stressful life events during pregnancy on offspring neurobehavioral development.
  • To control for confounding variables in the relationship between PNMS and child behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 2900 pregnant women recruited before 18 weeks gestation.
  • Assessment of maternal stressful life events during pregnancy.
  • Child Behavior Checklist completed by mothers when offspring were 2 years old.
  • Multiple regression analysis to identify significant predictors of ADHD behaviors and autistic traits, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

  • Maternal stressful events during pregnancy significantly predicted ADHD behaviors in both male and female offspring (p < 0.05).
  • Stressful events during pregnancy also significantly predicted autistic traits in male offspring (p < 0.05), after controlling for ADHD behaviors.
  • PNMS showed a small but significant independent association with both autistic traits and ADHD behaviors at age 2.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal maternal stress, including common life events, is associated with autistic traits and ADHD behaviors in early childhood.
  • Findings support further research into causal mechanisms, including epigenetic and gene-environment interaction studies.
  • This research highlights the importance of maternal well-being during pregnancy for offspring neurodevelopment.

Keywords:
ADHDRaine Studyautismautistic traitsprenatalstress

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