Prenatal Stress and Infant Cognitive Development: Residential Quality as a Protective Factor

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: PS 14 Topic - Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Pre and postnatal stress exposures have been well documented as a risk factor for developmental delays in infant cognition. The current study aimed to examine home quality dimensions as potential moderators for the relationship between prenatal stress and cognitive development. We hypothesized that optimal residential quality (specifically high levels of natural light exposure) and positive parenting practices (high maternal positive regard) would act as protective factors for the negative cognitive outcomes associated with prenatal stress within a socioeconomically diverse sample of African American women and their children (n=75). Mothers completed a stressful life index during pregnancy, and infant cognition was assessed with the Bayley III when the infants were 6 months or age. Observational data on the quality of the parenting and natural light levels in the homes were collected at the 3 at 6-month postpartum visits, and coded offline with reliability over 85%. We found no interaction between positive regard and prenatal stress in predicting cognitive scores therefore, positive regard was not a protective factor at 3 and 6 months. However, our results supported a protective factor model in that prenatal stress was predictive of lower cognitive scores on the Bayley more strongly in cases of low levels of natural light in the homes. Results remained the same when controlling for mother’s education and relationship status, as well as infant gestational age at birth. These findings provide new evidence that home quality features beyond parenting may act as protective factors for infant cognitive development in cases of high maternal prenatal stress, and suggest novel targets of intervention for high-risk families.

Authors

• Elaine Johnson, Emory University
  Presenting Author

• Patricia Brennan, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Madeleine Flora Cohen, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Brooke McKenna, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author