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Prenatal and Intrapartum Factors Associated With Infant Temperament: A Systematic Review

Mizuki Takegata1,2, Asami Matsunaga2,3,4, Yukiko Ohashi5

  • 1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|April 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal and intrapartum factors significantly influence infant temperament. Maternal health, environment, and genetics play crucial roles in a child's early behavioral development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Behavioral Genetics

Background:

  • Infant temperament is characterized by individual differences in emotional reactivity and behavioral tendencies.
  • The 'fetal programming' hypothesis suggests prenatal and intrapartum factors significantly shape infant temperament.
  • This review systematically examines evidence linking parental and infant factors during pregnancy and birth to infant temperament.

Approach:

  • A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
  • Searches were performed across MEDLINE, PubMed, and SCOPUS databases.
  • Included studies focused on infants up to 12 months, assessing temperament and prenatal/intrapartum factors.

Key Points:

  • Genetic factors (genotypes) and biological markers (maternal cortisol, ACTH, CRH) are associated with infant temperament.
  • Environmental influences include maternal substance use (tobacco, alcohol, drugs).
  • Socio-demographic (lower income), psychological (maternal depression, anxiety, domestic violence), and obstetric factors (hypertension, preterm birth) are also significant predictors.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support a gene-environment interaction model for infant temperament development.
  • Biological mechanisms linking prenatal/intrapartum exposures to temperament are evident.
  • Ensuring a safe maternal and family environment during pregnancy and delivery is crucial for optimal infant temperament.

Keywords:
infantintrapartum factorprenatal factorsystematic reviewtemperament

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