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Does maternal somatic anxiety in pregnancy predispose children to hyperactivity?
Blanca Bolea-Alamañac1, Simon J C Davies2, Jonathan Evans3
1General Systems Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, 6th Floor, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|March 15, 2019
Summary
Maternal somatic anxiety during pregnancy was linked to increased hyperactivity symptoms in children at ages 4 and 16. However, no significant association was found with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis in children.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Perinatal Mental Health
Background:
- Maternal mental health during pregnancy is crucial for child development.
- Somatic anxiety, characterized by physical symptoms, is a less-studied aspect of prenatal stress.
- Understanding the link between maternal anxiety and child neurodevelopmental outcomes is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal somatic anxiety during pregnancy and subsequent hyperactivity symptoms in children.
- To examine the relationship between maternal somatic anxiety and the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring.
- To utilize data from a large, longitudinal cohort study to provide robust evidence.
Main Methods:
- The study analyzed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort.
- Maternal somatic anxiety was measured using the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index during pregnancy.
- Child hyperactivity was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at ages 4 and 16, and ADHD diagnosis was determined using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) at ages 7.5 and 15.
Main Results:
- Maternal somatic anxiety showed a significant association with hyperactivity symptoms at age 4 (adjusted OR=1.34) and age 16 (adjusted OR=1.62).
- An association was also observed with ADHD diagnosis at age 7.5 (adjusted OR=1.57), but this did not persist at age 15.
- The findings suggest a link between prenatal somatic anxiety and later hyperactivity, but not consistently with formal ADHD diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Maternal somatic anxiety during pregnancy is associated with an increased likelihood of hyperactivity symptoms in children.
- The association between maternal somatic anxiety and ADHD diagnosis is less consistent, particularly in later childhood.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying the link between prenatal somatic anxiety and child behavioral outcomes.
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