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Gender-specific effect of pregnancy-related anxiety on preschooler's emotional and behavioral development: A

Xiaoxu Wang1, Jingjing Xie1, Ya Wu1

  • 1Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Province, China; Key Laboratory of study on abnormal gametes and reproductive tract, National Health and Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Province, China.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|October 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy-related anxiety impacts preschoolers differently based on gender. Maternal anxiety in early pregnancy increases girls' internalizing problems, while anxiety in either early or late pregnancy elevates boys' externalizing behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Child psychology
  • Developmental neuroscience

Background:

  • Pregnancy-related anxiety significantly influences offspring's neural development.
  • The gender-specific effects and critical periods of pregnancy-related anxiety on child development remain under-researched.
  • This study investigates the differential impact of maternal anxiety during pregnancy on emotional and behavioral outcomes in preschoolers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the gender-specific effects of pregnancy-related anxiety on preschooler emotional and behavioral development.
  • To identify potential critical periods during pregnancy for anxiety's impact.
  • To provide insights into targeted interventions for maternal mental health.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the China-Anhui Birth Cohort Study (C-ABCS) involving 3443 mother-child pairs.
  • Assessed pregnancy-related anxiety using the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire in the 1st and 3rd trimesters.
  • Employed logistic regression to analyze the association between maternal anxiety and preschooler emotional/behavioral problems via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ).

Main Results:

  • Pregnancy-related anxiety was prevalent in 31.6% of mothers.
  • Maternal anxiety in the 1st and/or 3rd trimester increased the risk of conduct problems and hyperactivity in boys.
  • Maternal anxiety in the 1st and/or both trimesters heightened the risk of emotional and total difficulties in girls.

Conclusions:

  • Pregnancy-related anxiety is linked to externalizing problems in boys (early and late pregnancy) and internalizing problems in girls (early pregnancy).
  • Findings highlight the importance of addressing maternal anxiety during specific pregnancy periods for child developmental outcomes.
  • Results underscore the need for gender-sensitive approaches in perinatal mental health support.
Abstract

Keywords:
Emotion and behaviorPregnancy-related anxietyPreschool children

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