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A staff of researchers at Michigan State College and the College of Michigan discovered new insights into the timing of prenatal stress and its impact on toddler stress reactivity and temperament—together with variations between genders.
The examine, printed in Psychoneuroendocrinology, is the primary to look at weekly stress throughout 27 weeks of being pregnant to pinpoint when it most impacts a new child’s stress response and temperament—two measures that point out toddler biobehavioral reactivity.
“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,” stated Alytia Levendosky, lead investigator of the examine and professor in MSU’s Division of Psychology.
The examine discovered intervals of upper sensitivity to emphasize in each mid and late gestation however discovered that women and boys had differing patterns of sensitivity. The information confirmed that experiencing stress in mid-gestation affected women’ HPA axis and temperament, whereas late gestation stress impacted boys. Earlier research on this discipline stopped their final stress evaluation between 32–34 weeks. As a result of this examine ran by way of week 41, Levendosky and her staff have been in a position to find the time that was most delicate for boys.
“This study is an essential step in correcting our understanding around prenatal stress effects for boys and girls,” stated Joseph Lonstein, investigator on the examine and professor in MSU’s Division of Psychology. “We hope that our findings inspire additional research so we can better understand what is happening in fetal brain development across pregnancy and how it is affected by stress.”
The staff of researchers will proceed following these individuals till the age of 4—with assessments at 2.5 years outdated and once more at 4 years outdated. Amy Nuttall, co-author of this examine and affiliate professor within the Division of Human Improvement and Household Research at MSU, hopes to proceed the examine by way of even later childhood.
Extra info:
Alytia A. Levendosky et al, Pinpointing the timing of prenatal stress related to toddler biobehavioral reactivity, Psychoneuroendocrinology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107368
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Examine pinpoints the impression of prenatal stress throughout 27 weeks of being pregnant (2025, March 10)
retrieved 10 March 2025
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