Blanca Bolea-Alamañac1, Simon Jc Davies2, Jonathan Evans3, Carol Joinson4, Rebecca Pearson5, Petros Skapinakis6, Alan Emond7. 1. General Systems Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, 33 Russel St., room 1071, Toronto ON M5S 2S1, Canada. 2. Geriatric Psychiatry Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80 Workman Way, 6th Floor, Toronto ON M6J 1H4, Canada. Electronic address: simon.davies@camh.ca. 3. Office Room BF12, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Clifton BS8 2BN, Bristol, UK. 4. Developmental Psychology, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BN,UK. 5. Psychiatric Epidemiology, Office BF11, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK. 6. Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London W1T 7NF, UK Department of Psychiatry, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina 45110, Greece. 7. Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Office Room BG6a, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Maternal somatic anxiety during pregnancy may affect neural foetal development via corticoid pathways. Using a large epidemiological cohort, this study explores the relationship between maternal somatic anxiety in pregnancy and child scores on the Test of Everyday Attention in Children (TEA-Ch). METHODS: Linear regression was used to analyse the association of maternal somatic anxiety during pregnancy and performance of children on three subtests of the TEA-Ch at age 8.5 years that assess selective attention (Sky Search), sustained attention (Sky Search Dual Test) and attentional control (Opposite Worlds). RESULTS: Children with complete data on each subtest were included in the analysis, comprising 4,198 children for the Sky Search subtest, 3,845 for the Sky Search Dual Test and 4,202 for the Opposite Worlds subtest. No association was found between exposure to maternal somatic anxiety and child's performance in any of the TEA-Ch subtests either before or after adjusting for confounders. The results did not change when stratifying by gender. LIMITATIONS: Selective attrition, lack of sensitivity of tests and lack of adjustment for the postnatal environment are possible limitations to this study. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of an association between exposure to maternal somatic anxiety in pregnancy and TEA-Ch scores. These results suggest that anxiety during pregnancy does not affect the development of children's attentional skills measured by TEA-Ch.
BACKGROUND: Maternal somatic anxiety during pregnancy may affect neural foetal development via corticoid pathways. Using a large epidemiological cohort, this study explores the relationship between maternal somatic anxiety in pregnancy and child scores on the Test of Everyday Attention in Children (TEA-Ch). METHODS: Linear regression was used to analyse the association of maternal somatic anxiety during pregnancy and performance of children on three subtests of the TEA-Ch at age 8.5 years that assess selective attention (Sky Search), sustained attention (Sky Search Dual Test) and attentional control (Opposite Worlds). RESULTS:Children with complete data on each subtest were included in the analysis, comprising 4,198 children for the Sky Search subtest, 3,845 for the Sky Search Dual Test and 4,202 for the Opposite Worlds subtest. No association was found between exposure to maternal somatic anxiety and child's performance in any of the TEA-Ch subtests either before or after adjusting for confounders. The results did not change when stratifying by gender. LIMITATIONS: Selective attrition, lack of sensitivity of tests and lack of adjustment for the postnatal environment are possible limitations to this study. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of an association between exposure to maternal somatic anxiety in pregnancy and TEA-Ch scores. These results suggest that anxiety during pregnancy does not affect the development of children's attentional skills measured by TEA-Ch.
Authors: Lara R Robinson; Rebecca H Bitsko; Brenna O'Masta; Joseph R Holbrook; Jean Ko; Caroline M Barry; Brion Maher; Audrey Cerles; Kayla Saadeh; Laurel MacMillan; Zayan Mahmooth; Jeanette Bloomfield; Margaret Rush; Jennifer W Kaminski Journal: Prev Sci Date: 2022-05-31
Authors: Mia A McLean; Vanessa E Cobham; Gabrielle Simcock; Sue Kildea; Suzanne King Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-06-05 Impact factor: 3.390