Abstract
Infant development plays a foundational role in optimal child development and health. Some studies have demonstrated an association
between maternal psychological distress and infant outcomes, although the main emphasis has been on postpartum depression
and infant-maternal attachment. Prevention and early intervention strategies would benefit from an understanding of the influence
of both prenatal and postpartum maternal distress on a broader spectrum of infant developmental outcomes. We conducted a systematic
review of studies assessing the effect of prenatal and postpartum maternal psychological distress on five aspects of infant
development: global; cognitive; behavioral; socio-emotional; and psychomotor. These findings suggest that prenatal distress
can have an adverse effect on cognitive, behavioral, and psychomotor development, and that postpartum distress contributes
to cognitive and socio-emotional development.
between maternal psychological distress and infant outcomes, although the main emphasis has been on postpartum depression
and infant-maternal attachment. Prevention and early intervention strategies would benefit from an understanding of the influence
of both prenatal and postpartum maternal distress on a broader spectrum of infant developmental outcomes. We conducted a systematic
review of studies assessing the effect of prenatal and postpartum maternal psychological distress on five aspects of infant
development: global; cognitive; behavioral; socio-emotional; and psychomotor. These findings suggest that prenatal distress
can have an adverse effect on cognitive, behavioral, and psychomotor development, and that postpartum distress contributes
to cognitive and socio-emotional development.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Review Paper
- Pages 1-32
- DOI 10.1007/s10578-012-0291-4
- Authors
- Dawn Kingston, Faculty of Nursing, Rm 5-258 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, 11405-87th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
- Suzanne Tough, Faculty of Paediatrics and Community Health Sciences, Centre for Child, Family, and Community Research, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Heather Whitfield, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3327
- Print ISSN 0009-398X