Effect of Natural Disaster-Related Prenatal Maternal Stress on Child Development and Health: A Meta-Analytic Review

The evidence supporting the idea that natural disaster-related prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) influences the child’s development has been accumulating for several years. We conducted a meta-analytical review to quantify this effect on different spheres of child development: birth outcomes, cognitive, motor, physical, socio-emotional, and behavioral development. We systematically searched the literature for articles on this topic (2756 articles retrieved and 37 articles included in the systematic review), extracted the relevant data to calculate the effect sizes , and then performed a meta-analysis for each category of outcomes (30 articles included across the meta-analyses) and meta-regressions to determine the effect of some factors of interest on the association between PNMS and child development: type of PNMS (objective, psychological, cognitive, diet), type of natural disaster (ice storm, flood/cyclone), type of report (maternal, third-party observer, medical), timing of exposure (preconception exposure included or not) and child age at assessment (under 10 or 10 years and older). We found that PNMS significantly influences all spheres of child development. Higher PNMS levels were associated with longer gestational age, larger newborns, and higher BMI and adiposity levels, as well as worse cognitive, motor, socio-emotional, and behavioral outcomes.

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Prenatal maternal stress from a natural disaster predicts dermatoglyphic asymmetry in humans

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579409000364 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 343-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Suzanne King ◽

Adham Mancini-Marïe ◽

Alain Brunet ◽

Elaine Walker ◽

Michael J. Meaney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Disaster ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Target Group ◽

Ice Storm ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽

Lower Stress ◽

The Face ◽

Normal Controls ◽

Objective Stress

AbstractDermatoglyphic asymmetry of fingertip ridge counts is more frequent in schizophrenia patients than normal controls, and may reflect disruptions in fetal development during Weeks 14–22 when fingerprints develop. However, there are no data in humans linking specific adverse events at specific times to dermatoglyphic asymmetries. Our objective was to determine whether prenatal exposure to a natural disaster (1998 Quebec ice storm) during Weeks 14–22 would result in increased dermatoglyphic asymmetry in children, and to determine the roles of maternal objective stress exposure, subjective stress reaction, and postdisaster cortisol. Ridge counts for homologous fingers were scored for 77 children (20 target exposed [Weeks 14–22] and 57 nontarget exposed [exposed during other gestation weeks]). Children in the target group had more than 0.50 SD greater asymmetry than the nontarget group. Within the target group, children whose mothers had high subjective ice storm stress had significantly greater asymmetry than those with lower stress mothers, and maternal postdisaster cortisol had a significant negative correlation with the children's dermatoglyphic asymmetry (r = −.56). Prenatal maternal stress during the period of fingerprint development results in greater dermatoglyphic asymmetry in their children, especially in the face of greater maternal distress.

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Prenatal maternal stress and risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.12827.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 15

Author(s):

Nicla Manzari ◽

Karen Matvienko-Sikar ◽

Franco Baldoni ◽

Gerard W. O'Keeffe ◽

Ali S. Khashan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact

Background: Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is defined as the experience of significant levels of prenatal stress, depression or anxiety during pregnancy. PNMS has been associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in exposed offspring. However, these findings are inconsistent and other studies found no association, meaning a clear consensus on the impact of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk is required. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize and critically review the existing literature on the effects of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE) will be searched for articles following a detailed search strategy. We will include cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies that assessed maternal exposure to psychological and/or environmental stress and had ASD or ADHD as an outcome. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles, abstracts and full articles to identify eligible studies. We will use a standardised data extraction form for extracting data and a bias classification tool for assessing study quality. This systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The generic inverse variance method will be used if possible to perform meta-analyses. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study because it will not involve the conduct or inclusion of any experimental or personal data that would require informed consent. The systematic review will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018084222.

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Prenatal maternal stress and risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.12827.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 15 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicla Manzari ◽

Karen Matvienko-Sikar ◽

Franco Baldoni ◽

Gerard W. O'Keeffe ◽

Ali S. Khashan

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

The Impact

Background: Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is defined as the experience of significant levels of prenatal stress, depression or anxiety during pregnancy. PNMS has been associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in exposed offspring. However, these findings are inconsistent and other studies found no association, meaning a clear consensus on the impact of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk is required. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize and critically review the existing literature on the effects of PNMS on ASD and ADHD risk. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE) will be searched for articles following a detailed search strategy. We will include cohort and case-control studies that assessed maternal exposure to psychological and/or environmental stress and had ASD or ADHD as an outcome. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles, abstracts and full articles to identify eligible studies. We will use a standardised data extraction form for extracting data and a bias classification tool for assessing study quality. This systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The generic inverse variance method will be used if possible to perform meta-analyses. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study because it will not involve the conduct or inclusion of any experimental or personal data that would require informed consent. The systematic review will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018084222.

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ISDN2014_0055: Prenatal maternal stress from a natural disaster predicts hippocampus volumes in males at age 11: Project Ice Storm

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience ◽

10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.04.042 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 47 (Part_A) ◽

pp. 12-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. Dufoix ◽

A. Charil ◽

D.P. Laplante ◽

T. Paus ◽

J. Pruessner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Disaster ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Ice Storm ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress

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Prenatal Maternal Stress from a Natural Disaster Alters Urinary Metabolomic Profiles in Project Ice Storm Participants

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-018-31230-x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Eric J. Paxman ◽

Naveenjyote S. Boora ◽

Douglas Kiss ◽

David P. Laplante ◽

Suzanne King ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Disaster ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Ice Storm ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress

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DNA Methylation Signatures Triggered by Prenatal Maternal Stress Exposure to a Natural Disaster: Project Ice Storm

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0107653 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e107653 ◽

Cited By ~ 165

Author(s):

Lei Cao-Lei ◽

Renaud Massart ◽

Matthew J. Suderman ◽

Ziv Machnes ◽

Guillaume Elgbeili ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Natural Disaster ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Ice Storm ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽

Stress Exposure

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Prenatal Maternal Stress Predicts Childhood Asthma in Girls: Project Ice Storm

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/201717 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Anne-Marie Turcotte-Tremblay ◽

Robert Lim ◽

David P. Laplante ◽

Lester Kobzik ◽

Alain Brunet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Childhood Asthma ◽

Maternal Stress ◽

Small Study ◽

Ice Storm ◽

Prenatal Maternal Stress ◽

Subjective Distress ◽

Immune Functioning ◽

Asthma Symptoms ◽

Asthma Risk

Little is known about how prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) influences risks of asthma in humans. In this small study, we sought to determine whether disaster-related PNMS would predict asthma risk in children. In June 1998, we assessed severity of objective hardship and subjective distress in women pregnant during the January 1998 Quebec Ice Storm. Lifetime asthma symptoms, diagnoses, and corticosteroid utilization were assessed when the children were 12 years old (N=68). No effects of objective hardship or timing of the exposure were found. However, we found that, in girls only, higher levels of prenatal maternal subjective distress predicted greater lifetime risk of wheezing (OR=1.11; 90% CI = 1.01–1.23), doctor-diagnosed asthma (OR=1.09; 90% CI = 1.00–1.19), and lifetime utilization of corticosteroids (OR=1.12; 90% CI = 1.01–1.25). Other perinatal and current maternal life events were also associated with asthma outcomes. Findings suggest that stress during pregnancy opens a window for fetal programming of immune functioning. A sex-based approach may be useful to examine how prenatal and postnatal environments combine to program the immune system. This small study needs to be replicated with a larger, more representative sample.

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