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Cited by 1,070Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPrenatal Substance Exposure Effects

Maternal antenatal anxiety and children's behavioural/emotional problems at 4 years

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O'Connor, Thomas G., Heron, Jonathon, Golding, Jean, Beveridge, Michael, Glover, Vivette·2002·British Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1192/bjp.180.6.502
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Abstract

Background: Animal experiments suggest that maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy have long-term effects on the behaviour of the off spring. Aims: To test the hypothesis that antenatal maternal anxiety predicts behavioural problems at age 4 years. Method: Data were collected on multiple antenatal and postnatal assessments of maternal anxiety and depression, antenatal and obstetric risks, psychosocial risks and children's behavioural/emotional problems (n=7448). Results: Antenatal maternal anxiety predicted behavioural/emotional problems in boys (OR=2.14,95% CI 1.48−3.10) and girls (OR=1.88,95% CI 1.3–2.69) after accounting for covariates. When covarying maternal anxiety up to 33 months postnatally, antenatal anxiety continued to predict total problems in boys (OR=1.56,95% CI 1.02–2.41) and girls (OR=1.5l, 95% CI 1.22–2.81). Conclusions: There could be a direct effect of maternal mood on foetal brain development, which affects the behavioural development of the child.

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  • Postpartum depression has deleterious effects on maternal-child attachment, child behaviour, and cognitive and neuroendocrine outcomes that persist into adolescence.

    “which in turn has deleterious effects on maternal–child attachment, child behaviour, and cognitive and neuroendocrine outcomes that persist into adolescence.36–40”

    From Previous prenatal loss as a predictor of perinatal depression and anxiety (2011) · cites this paper as [37]

    The section on antenatal anxiety and behavioural/emotional problems identifies postnatal depression as a known risk factor for children's behavioural/emotional problems. It does not establish effects on maternal–child attachment or cognitive and neuroendocrine outcomes, nor persistence into adolescence; this study assessed child outcomes at 47 months (Method). (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Maternal stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy and post-partum have short- and long-term consequences for women's health, impact mother-baby/child interactions, and increase risk of emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and social problems in children.

    “Maternal stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy and post-partum are reported to have short- and long-term consequences for women's health, impact mother-baby/child interactions, and increase the risk of emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and social problems in children (Mason etal., 2011; O'Connor etal., 2002).”

    From A Qualitative Investigation of a Prenatal Mindfulness Relationship-Based (PMRB) Program to Support Maternal Mental Health and Mother–Baby Relationship During Pregnancy and Post-Partum (2024) · cites this paper as O'Connor et al., 2002

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  • Elevated prenatal maternal stress/anxiety is associated with infant inability to attend and delayed cognitive development.

    “Thus, elevated prenatal maternal stress/anxiety is associated with infant inability to attend and with delayed cognitive development (Brouwers et al., 2001; Huizink et al., 2002; O’Connor et al., 2002; Buitelaar et al., 2003; Huizink et al., 2003; Davis & Sandman, in press)”

    From High pregnancy anxiety during mid-gestation is associated with decreased gray matter density in 6-9-year-old children. (2010) · cites this paper as O’Connor et al., 2002

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Authors
O'Connor, T. G., Heron, J., Golding, J., Beveridge, M., & Glover, V.
Affiliations
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • University of Plymouth (GB)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published
2002-06
Volume
180
Issue
06
Pages
502-508
ISSN
  • 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1465
DOI
10.1192/bjp.180.6.502
OpenAlex
W2173291953
Cited by
1,070
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 75 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 65 · 2014: 72 · 2013: 72 · 2012: 51
FWCI
34.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
Keywords
child behavior problems, child emotional problems, maternal depression, prenatal stress, sex differences, maternal mood, fetal brain development, early childhood
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Anxiety, Child Behavior Disorders, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Maternal Behavior, Middle Aged, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Multivariate Analysis, Logistic Models, Odds Ratio

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