Capitol News

Researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan have revealed new insights into the effects of prenatal stress on infants. Their study, published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, is the first to examine weekly stress over 27 weeks of pregnancy to determine the timing of its impact on newborns' stress response and temperament.

The lead investigator of the study, Alytia Levendosky, a professor in MSU's Department of Psychology, explained, "Prenatal stress has a well-established link to negative health, including mental health, outcomes in children and adults, but most studies conclude that the biggest effects are on girls. Our study found that not to be the case. It’s in fact, just different timing." The study involved 396 pregnant women from high-stress-risk backgrounds, assessed weekly from week 15 to week 41 of pregnancy. Infant cortisol levels were then measured six months postpartum, revealing the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system to stress.

The research highlighted that mid-gestation stress affected girls' HPA axis and temperament, while stress in late gestation impacted boys. The study ran stress assessments through to week 41, allowing the team to pinpoint sensitivities for boys, unlike previous studies ending at weeks 32-34. Joseph Lonstein, another investigator from MSU’s Department of Psychology, stated, "This study is an essential step in correcting our understanding around prenatal stress effects for boys and girls."

The research team, with current funding, plans to follow the participants until they reach four years old, with evaluations at 2.5 and 4 years of age. Co-author, Amy Nuttall from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at MSU, expressed interest in extending the study into later childhood.