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Cited by 704Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumStress Responses and CortisolBirth, Development, and Health

The Timing of Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Cortisol and Psychosocial Stress Is Associated With Human Infant Cognitive Development

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Davis, Elysia P, Sandman, Curt A·2010·Child Development
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01385.xPMC PMC2846100
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Abstract

The consequences of prenatal maternal stress for development were examined in 125 full-term infants at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. Maternal cortisol and psychological state were evaluated 5 times during pregnancy. Exposure to elevated concentrations of cortisol early in gestation was associated with a slower rate of development over the 1st year and lower mental development scores at 12 months. Elevated levels of maternal cortisol late in gestation, however, were associated with accelerated cognitive development and higher scores at 12 months. Elevated levels of maternal pregnancy-specific anxiety early in pregnancy were independently associated with lower 12-month mental development scores. These data suggest that maternal cortisol and pregnancy-specific anxiety have programming influences on the developing fetus.

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  • Exposure to elevated concentrations of cortisol early in gestation was associated with a slower rate of development over the first postnatal year and lower scores on the mental development index of BSID at 12 months.

    “Exposure to elevated concentrations of cortisol early in gestation has also been associated with a slower rate of development over the first postnatal year and lower scores on the mental development index of BSID at 12 months, while elevated levels of maternal cortisol late in gestation were associated with accelerated development over the first year and higher scores on the BSID at 12 months [109”

    From Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility. (2017) · cites this paper as [109]

  • Elevated levels of maternal cortisol late in gestation were associated with accelerated development over the first year and higher scores on the BSID at 12 months.

    “Exposure to elevated concentrations of cortisol early in gestation has also been associated with a slower rate of development over the first postnatal year and lower scores on the mental development index of BSID at 12 months, while elevated levels of maternal cortisol late in gestation were associated with accelerated development over the first year and higher scores on the BSID at 12 months [109”

    From Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility. (2017) · cites this paper as [109]

  • Elevated levels of maternal pregnancy-specific anxiety early in pregnancy were independently associated with lower scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) at 12 months.

    “Elevated levels of maternal pregnancy-specific anxiety early in pregnancy were also independently associated with lower scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) at 12 months [109].”

    From Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility. (2017) · cites this paper as [109]

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Authors
Davis, E. P., & Sandman, C. A.
Affiliations
University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
Davis, Elysia P
ORCID
Venue
Child Development
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2010-01-01
Volume
81
Issue
1
Pages
131-148
ISSN
  • 0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-8624
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01385.x
PMC
PMC2846100
OpenAlex
W2124209493
Cited by
704
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 44
FWCI
38.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Child Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-41298;, R01NS041298)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000827)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD051852)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
Keywords
prenatal stress, maternal cortisol, psychosocial stress, pregnancy-specific anxiety, infant cognitive development, developmental timing, fetal programming, term infants, gestational age
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Anxiety, Child Development, Cognition, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Mothers, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Stress, Psychological, Infant Behavior

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