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Psychological adversity in pregnancy : what works to improve outcomes?
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Glover, V. and Barlow, Jane (2014) Psychological adversity in pregnancy : what works to improve outcomes? Journal of Children's Services, 9 (2). pp. 96-108. doi:10.1108/JCS-01-2014-0003 ISSN 1746-6660.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-01-2014-0003
Abstract
Purpose
– Foetal programming is one of the key mechanisms by which physical and social adversity is biologically embedded during pregnancy. While early interest in such programming focused on the long-term impact of the mother's nutritional state on the child's later physical health, more recent research has identified an increased risk of psychopathology in children of women who have experienced stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy. The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature addressing the impact of stress in pregnancy and the implications for practice.
Design/methodology/approach
– An overview of the literature has been provided.
Findings
– Both anxiety and depression in pregnancy are common, with a prevalence in the region of 20 per cent. Exposure in pregnancy to anxiety, depression and stress from a range of sources (e.g. bereavement, relationship problems, external disasters and war), is associated with a range of physical (e.g. congenital malformations, reduced birthweight and gestational age), neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and emotional and behavioural (e.g. ADHD, conduct disorder) problems. The magnitude is significant, with the attributable risk of childhood behaviour problems due to prenatal stress being between 10 and 15 per cent, and the variance in cognitive development due to prenatal stress being around 17 per cent. A range of methods of intervening are effective in improving both maternal anxiety and depression, and in the longer term should improve outcomes for the infant and child.
Research limitations/implications
– This research highlights the importance of intervening to support the psychological wellbeing of pregnant women to improve outcomes for infants and children, and points to the need for further research into innovative ways of working, particularly with high-risk groups of pregnant women.
Originality/value
– The paper provides an update of earlier overviews.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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Subjects: | R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Dean's Office & Professional Support Services | ||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Fetus -- Effect of stress on, Prenatal influences, Pregnancy -- Psychological aspects | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Children's Services | ||||||
Publisher: | Emerald Publishing Limited | ||||||
ISSN: | 1746-6660 | ||||||
Official Date: | 2014 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 9 | ||||||
Number: | 2 | ||||||
Page Range: | pp. 96-108 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1108/JCS-01-2014-0003 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
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