Perceived Stress During Pregnancy and Offspring Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Findings From the ECHO...

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Child developmental disorders
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents a growing public health challenge in the United States.
• Identifying prenatal risk factors is crucial for mitigating the population-level burden of ADHD.
• Maternal prenatal perceived stress is a potential, yet understudied, risk factor for offspring ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prospective association between maternal perceived stress during pregnancy and ADHD diagnosis in offspring.
• To examine the relationship between maternal prenatal stress and ADHD symptoms in children.
• To identify potential risk factors for ADHD to inform prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 6,080 mother-child dyads in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort study.
• Assessed offspring ADHD diagnosis by a healthcare provider and ADHD symptoms via the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
• Employed generalized regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, with sex- and age-stratified analyses.

Main Results:

• High maternal perceived stress during pregnancy was significantly associated with increased odds of offspring ADHD diagnosis (aOR = 2.46).
• Maternal stress correlated with higher scores on CBCL ADHD-related subscales across preschool and school-aged children.
• Specific associations were noted for ADHD DSM-5 clinical vs. normal classifications and externalizing problems.

Conclusions:

• Maternal prenatal perceived stress is a significant risk factor for ADHD diagnosis and symptoms in offspring.
• Interventions aimed at reducing maternal stress during pregnancy may be beneficial for managing ADHD.
• Further research into stress management programs could improve ADHD outcomes in children.