Cited by 422Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumPrenatal Substance Exposure EffectsBirth, Development, and Health

Impact of Maternal Stress, Depression and Anxiety on Fetal Neurobehavioral Development

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KINSELLA, MICHAEL T., MONK, CATHERINE·2009·Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology

Abstract

Although postnatal psychologic distress has been widely studied for many years, particularly with a focus on postpartum depression, symptoms of maternal depression, stress, and anxiety are not more common or severe after childbirth than during pregnancy. This paper reviews the newer body of research aimed at identifying the effects of women's antenatal psychologic distress on fetal behavior and child development, and the biologic pathways for this influence. These studies are in line with the growing body of literature supporting the "fetal origins hypothesis" that prenatal environmental exposures--including maternal psychologic state-based alterations in in utero physiology--can have sustained effects across the lifespan.

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  • Maternal stress during pregnancy is biologically linked to foetal wellbeing, and pregnant mothers under stress are psychologically vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

    “During stress, parents particularly pregnant mothers are in a psychologically vulnerable state to experience anxiety and depression which is biologically linked to the wellbeing of the foetus (Biaggi et al., 2016; Kinsella and Monk, 2009).”

    From Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of children and adolescents: A narrative review with recommendations (2020) · cites this paper as Kinsella and Monk, 2009

    The Introduction (page not available) links maternal stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy to fetal development, and the Physiological Pathways section discusses possible biological routes for that influence. The paper does not establish that stress makes pregnant women more vulnerable to anxiety or depression, and it does not address parents generally. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Maternal distress and other exposures during the prenatal period contribute to long-term changes in foetal development, with adverse implications for child physical and mental health.

    “During this time, a range of exposures (including maternal distress) have been shown to contribute towards long-term changes to foetal development, with adverse longer-term implications for physical and mental health of the child (Kinsella & Monk, Citation2009).”

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  1. [47]DiPietro Jea Fetal motor acivity is associated with maternal cortisol in press

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Authors
KINSELLA, M. T., & MONK, C.
Affiliations
Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
  • KINSELLA, MICHAEL T.
  • MONK, CATHERINE
Venue
Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology
Published
2009-09
Volume
52
Issue
3
Pages
425-440
ISSN
0009-9201 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1965460617
Cited by
422
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 18
FWCI
1.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R34MH072838)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
Keywords
maternal stress, maternal depression, maternal anxiety, fetal origins hypothesis, prenatal environmental exposure, child development, biological pathways
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Depression, Female, Heart Rate, Fetal, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Mothers, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Pregnancy, Stress, Psychological, Fetal Development

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