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

Sandra Lafortune, David P. Laplante, Guillaume Elgbeili, Xinyuan Li, Stéphanie Lebel, Christian Dagenais and Suzanne King
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Sandra Lafortune: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Montreal, Marie-Victorin Pavilion, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada
David P. Laplante: Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
Guillaume Elgbeili: Mental Health and Society Division, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Perry Pavilion, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada
Xinyuan Li: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Arts and Science, McGill University, Ludmer Research & Training Building, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
Stéphanie Lebel: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Montreal, Marie-Victorin Pavilion, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada
Christian Dagenais: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Montreal, Marie-Victorin Pavilion, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada
Suzanne King: Mental Health and Society Division, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Perry Pavilion, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-35

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: prenatal maternal stress; natural disasters; child development; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8332-:d:609646

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