Rafael A Caparros-Gonzalez1, Alejandro de la Torre-Luque2, Borja Romero-Gonzalez3, Juan Manuel Quesada-Soto4, Fiona Alderdice5, María Isabel Peralta-Ramírez3. 1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: rcg477@ugr.es. 2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Autonomous University Madrid, Madrid, Spain. 3. Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain. 4. Faculty of Psychology, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain. 5. National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this systematic-review and meta-analysis was to assess whether high maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with the development of pediatric pathology. DESIGN: Epidemiological peer-reviewed studies published in English or Spanish assessing associations between maternal stress during pregnancy and psychiatric and medical diseases were selected. PARTICIPANTS: We retrieved 73,024 citations; 42 studies meeting inclusion criteria were assessed. Overall sample included 65,814,076 women. FINDINGS: Overall odds ratio for the development of a medical disease was OR=1.24 (CI95=1.11, 1.39), Z=3.85, p<.01. Overall odds ratio for psychiatric disorders was OR=1.28 (CI95=1.06, 1.56), Z=2.54, p<.02. Multivariate meta-analysis showed a significant coefficient for autism spectrum disorder studies, B=0.42, SE=0.16, Z=2.67, p<.01. We found a significant overall effect size for autism spectrum disorder (OR=1.45 [CI95=1.24, 1.70], Z=4.69, p<.01). In terms of medical diseases, studies including obesity and infantile colic presented a significant overall effect size, as OR=1.20 (CI95=1.03, 1.39), Z=2.41, p<.02. The highest effect size was found regarding the first trimester (B=1.62, SE=0.16, Z=9.90, p<.01). KEY CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that exposure to high levels of stress during pregnancy are associated with autism spectrum disorder, obesity, and infantile colic in offspring. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Maternal stress during pregnancy should be addressed to tackle its potential impact in health across the life span.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this systematic-review and meta-analysis was to assess whether high maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with the development of pediatric pathology. DESIGN: Epidemiological peer-reviewed studies published in English or Spanish assessing associations between maternal stress during pregnancy and psychiatric and medical diseases were selected. PARTICIPANTS: We retrieved 73,024 citations; 42 studies meeting inclusion criteria were assessed. Overall sample included 65,814,076 women. FINDINGS: Overall odds ratio for the development of a medical disease was OR=1.24 (CI95=1.11, 1.39), Z=3.85, p<.01. Overall odds ratio for psychiatric disorders was OR=1.28 (CI95=1.06, 1.56), Z=2.54, p<.02. Multivariate meta-analysis showed a significant coefficient for autism spectrum disorder studies, B=0.42, SE=0.16, Z=2.67, p<.01. We found a significant overall effect size for autism spectrum disorder (OR=1.45 [CI95=1.24, 1.70], Z=4.69, p<.01). In terms of medical diseases, studies including obesity and infantile colic presented a significant overall effect size, as OR=1.20 (CI95=1.03, 1.39), Z=2.41, p<.02. The highest effect size was found regarding the first trimester (B=1.62, SE=0.16, Z=9.90, p<.01). KEY CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that exposure to high levels of stress during pregnancy are associated with autism spectrum disorder, obesity, and infantile colic in offspring. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Maternal stress during pregnancy should be addressed to tackle its potential impact in health across the life span.
Authors: Celia Campos-Garzón; Blanca Riquelme-Gallego; Alejandro de la Torre-Luque; Rafael A Caparrós-González Journal: Behav Sci (Basel) Date: 2021-12-16