Perinatal & Pediatric
Psychosocial profiles in pregnancy predict infant temperament Katherine Ziegler* Katherine Ziegler Christine Hockett Haden Goodwin Santiago Morales Amy Elliott
Background. Infant temperament is one of the best early predictors of future emotional and behavioral difficulties in childhood. Stress and depressive disorders in pregnancy have also been linked to adverse child neurodevelopment. However, maternal mental health and social support have rarely been examined together using person-centered approaches to investigate their impacts on child socioemotional outcomes. This study examines the relations between profiles of maternal psychosocial health and social support in pregnancy with infant temperament.
Methods. Maternal-infant dyads (n=810) enrolled in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes in South Dakota were included. Psychosocial profiles (PSPs) were determined via latent class analysis based on self-reported responses to mental health and social support questionnaires in pregnancy. Infant temperament was assessed via the Infant Behavior Questionnaire. General linear models assessed the relationship between maternal PSPs and infant temperament adjusting for maternal and infant characteristics.
Results. Four PSPs were identified: high psychological risk and low social support [HPLS] (21.0%), high psychological risk and high social support [HPHS] (15.2%), low psychological risk and low social support [LPLS] (20.6%), and low psychological risk and high social support [LPHS] (43.2%). Infants of mothers with HPLS (β=0.48; 95% CI=0.29-0.67), HPHS (β=0.43; 95% CI=0.21-0.64), and LPLS (β=0.23; 95% CI=0.05-0.43) were higher in negative affect, compared to infants of mothers with LPHS. Infants of mothers with HPLS (β=-0.21; 95% CI=-0.34 to -0.08), and LPLS (β=-0.20; 95% CI=-0.33 to -0.06) were lower in effortful control, compared to infants of mothers with LPHS.
Discussion. Understanding the interplay of prenatal social support and prenatal psychosocial factors on infant neurodevelopment is important and can inform early intervention strategies to mitigate the impact of psychosocial stressors on infant behavior.