Maternal pandemic-related stress during pregnancy associates with infants’ socio-cognitive development at 12 months: A longitudinal multi-centric study

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284578
• Publication Date: 2023-04-17T17:28:50Z
• Authors: Sarah Nazzari; Serena Grumi; Giacomo Biasucci; Lidia Decembrino; Elisa Fazzi; Roberta Giacchero; Maria Luisa Magnani; Renata Nacinovich; Barbara Scelsa; Arsenio Spinillo; Elena Capelli; Elisa Roberti; Livio Provenzi
• Keywords: Longitudinal Study; Pandemic; Child Development

Background Prenatal maternal stress is a key risk factor for infants’ development. Previous research has highlighted consequences socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes, but less known what regards socio-cognitive In this study, we report on the effects of prenatal related to COVID-19 pandemic 12-month-old behavioral markers Methods Ninety infants their mothers provided complete longitudinal data from birth 12 months. At birth, reported pandemic-related during pregnancy. 12-month-age, remote mother-infant interaction was videotaped: after an initial 2-min face-to-face episode, experimenter remotely played series four auditory stimuli (2 human 2 non-human sounds). The sequence counterbalanced among participants each sound repeated three times every 10 seconds (Exposure, 30 seconds) while were instructed not interact with display neutral still-face expression. Infants’ orienting, communication, pointing toward source coded micro-analytically score (SCS) obtained by means principal component analysis. Results Infants equally oriented stimuli. All Exposure 80% exhibited any communication directed source, 48% showed at least one sound. Mothers who greater had higher probability showing no t = 2.14 ( p .035), or pointing, 1.93 .057). A significant negative linear association found between SCS months, R .07 .010), adjusting potential confounders. Conclusions This study suggests that might have increased altered development in as assessed through observational paradigm Special preventive attention should be devoted born pandemic.