Journal article
Prenatal Maternal Distress: A Risk Factor for Child Anxiety?
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, Vol.21(2), pp.203-223
2018
Abstract
The deleterious association between various types of prenatal maternal psychological distress (PNMS, anxiety, depression, psychological distress, stress) and childhood anxiety symptomatology (internalizing behaviors, anxiety symptoms) has been established using both retrospective and prospective longitudinal studies across varied demographic cohorts and throughout development. Yet, the existing literature cannot claim maternal distress during pregnancy to be a specific risk factor for anxiety symptomatology, as studies utilizing such observational designs are unable to adequately account for confounding of potential genetic factors and the postnatal environment. In this review, we examine studies that attempt to minimize such confounding and thus disentangle the unique intrauterine exposure effect of varying types of PNMS on childhood anxiety symptomatology. Such methodologies include paternal versus maternal comparison studies, sibling comparisons, prenatal cross-fostering designs and timing of exposure studies (including disaster studies). Of the identified studies, findings indicate that prenatal maternal distress is likely to constitute a risk factor for anxiety symptomatology, although more studies are needed to replicate current findings in order to determine whether there are clear differences in effects across specific types of PNMS and for specific subpopulations. We review the methodological limitations and strengths of the literature prior to exploring avenues of future research and implications for theory and clinical practice.
Details
- Title
- Prenatal Maternal Distress: A Risk Factor for Child Anxiety?
- Authors
- M A McLean (Author) - University of QueenslandV E Cobham (Author) - University of QueenslandGabrielle Simcock (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, Vol.21(2), pp.203-223
- Publisher
- Springer New York LLC
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10567-017-0251-4
- ISSN
- 1096-4037
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450730702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Psychology, Clinical
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