Prenatal Stress and Child Anxiety: reviewing the Moderating and Mediating Roles of Genetic, Environmental and Child Characteristics

• In Event: Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Topic - Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

Background. Anxiety is a significant problem during early childhood, contributing to substantial impairment and risk of later developing other mental health problems. One of the early risk factors for child mental health problems that has been documented in the literature is prenatal maternal stress. However, there is little understanding of the effects of prenatal stress in the development of child anxiety, as well as the role of moderating and mediating factors. Method. The aim of this review is to identify and summarize papers that have included an examination of moderators and mediators of prenatal stress effects in the development of child anxiety and early predictors of anxiety (e.g. fearfulness, negative emotionality, emotion dysregulation). Articles were searched in multiple databases using key words related to prenatal stress, child anxiety and early risk for anxiety. No limitation was placed on publication date or the type of prenatal stress. Results. A total of 466 articles were identified, 23 of which reflect the research questions and inclusion criteria. The review was undertaken in an effort to better understand this area of research, as well as to improve the comprehensiveness and prediction in models of child anxiety by focusing on moderators and mediators. The effects of the following moderators are presented: biological susceptibility including candidate genotypes; environmental, such as attachment and maternal care; as well as child moderators, namely gender. Conclusions. Biological, environmental and child characteristics have been found to moderate and mediate the association between prenatal stress and child internalizing problems. Of note, all of the identified papers included measures of early risk for anxiety, such as negative emotionality. Thus, no papers were identified that included an examination of the effects of prenatal stress on child anxiety.

Group Authors

DREAM-BIG CONSORTIUM

Authors

• Alegra Kandiyoti, Centre Universitaire de Santé McGill
  Presenting Author

• Carley Marshall, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sahar Balvardi, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Noriyeh Rahbari, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC
  Non-Presenting Author

• Eszter Székely, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ashley Wazana, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author

• David Laplante, Lady Davis Institute - Jewish General Hospital
  Non-Presenting Author