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Exploring sex differences in fetal programming for childhood emotional disorders
Megan Galbally1, Stuart J Watson2, Martha Lappas3
1School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, WA, Australia.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|April 24, 2022
Summary
Sex differences matter in fetal programming for child emotional disorders. Maternal depression and infant cortisol reactivity predict internalizing symptoms in females, highlighting unique prenatal pathways.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Developmental psychology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Maternal depression and placental gene expression may influence fetal development and later emotional health.
- Sex differences in these pathways are not well understood.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for identifying risks for childhood emotional disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex differences in the relationship between maternal depression, placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA expression, infant cortisol reactivity, and childhood emotional disorders.
- To explore potential fetal programming pathways linking prenatal factors to later emotional health in offspring.
- To identify sex-specific predictors of depression and anxiety symptoms in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Data from 209 pregnant women (Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study) were analyzed.
- Maternal depression and childhood trauma were assessed using SCID-IV and CTQ.
- Placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA, infant salivary cortisol, and child emotional disorders (PAPA, CBCL) were measured.
Main Results:
- Maternal depression and infant cortisol reactivity were linked to internalizing symptoms in females only.
- Increased infant cortisol reactivity predicted emotional disorders in female offspring but not males.
- Lower placental 11β-HSD2 mRNA and higher infant cortisol reactivity predicted internalizing problems in females.
Conclusions:
- Sex differences are significant in prenatal predictors and pathways for early childhood emotional disorders.
- Female offspring may have distinct vulnerabilities related to maternal depression and stress regulation.
- Further research is needed to elucidate these sex-specific fetal programming mechanisms.
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