Pandemic beyond the virus: maternal COVID-related postnatal stress is associated with infant temperament

  • Catherine Bianco
  • , Ayesha Sania
  • , Margaret H. Kyle
  • , Beatrice Beebe
  • , Jennifer Barbosa
  • , Mary Bence
  • , Lerzan Coskun
  • , Andrea Fields
  • , Morgan R. Firestein
  • , Sylvie Goldman
  • , Amie Hane
  • , Violet Hott
  • , Maha Hussain
  • , Sabrina Hyman
  • , Maristella Lucchini
  • , Rachel Marsh
  • , Isabelle Mollicone
  • , Michael Myers
  • , Dayshalis Ofray
  • , Nicolo Pini
  • Cynthia Rodriguez, Lauren C. Shuffrey, Nim Tottenham, Martha G. Welch, William Fifer, Catherine Monk, Dani Dumitriu, Dima Amso

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Studies have shown that infant temperament varies with maternal psychosocial factors, in utero illness, and environmental stressors. We predicted that the pandemic would shape infant temperament through maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and/or maternal postnatal stress. To test this, we examined associations among infant temperament, maternal prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection, maternal postnatal stress, and postnatal COVID-related life disruptions. Methods: We tested 63 mother–infant dyads with prenatal maternal SARS-CoV-2 infections and a comparable group of 110 dyads without infections. To assess postnatal maternal stress, mothers completed the Perceived Stress Scale 4 months postpartum and an evaluation of COVID-related stress and life disruptions 6 months postpartum. Mothers reported on infant temperament when infants were 6-months-old using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R) Very Short Form. Results: Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was not associated with infant temperament or maternal postnatal stress. Mothers with higher self-reported postnatal stress rated their infants lower on the Positive Affectivity/Surgency and Orienting/Regulation IBQ-R subscales. Mothers who reported greater COVID-related life disruptions rated their infants higher on the Negative Emotionality IBQ-R subscale. Conclusions: Despite no effect of prenatal maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, stress and life disruptions incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with infant temperament at 6-months. Impact: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is not associated with postnatal ratings of COVID-related life disruptions, maternal stress, or infant temperament.Postnatal ratings of maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with normative variation in maternal report of infant temperament at 6 months of age.Higher postnatal ratings of maternal stress are associated with lower scores on infant Positive Affectivity/Surgency and Orienting/Regulation at 6 months of age.Higher postnatal ratings of COVID-related life disruptions are associated with higher scores on infant Negative Emotionality at 6 months of age.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)253-259
Number of pages7
JournalPediatric Research
Volume93
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pandemic beyond the virus: maternal COVID-related postnatal stress is associated with infant temperament'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this