Full metadata
Title
Links between prenatal stress and obstetrical complications and infant behavior: a twin design
Description
The main objective of this study was to use a genetically-informative design to examine the putative influences of maternal perceived prenatal stress, obstetrical complications, and gestational age on infant dysregulation, competence, and developmental maturity. Specifically, whether or not prenatal and obstetrical environmental conditions modified the heritability of infant outcomes was examined. A total of 291 mothers were interviewed when their twin infants were 12 months of age. Pregnancy and twin birth medical records were obtained to code obstetrical data. Utilizing behavioral genetic models, results indicated maternal perceived prenatal stress moderated genetic and environmental influences on developmental maturity whereas obstetrical complications moderated shared environmental influences on infant competence and nonshared environmental influences on developmental maturity. Gestational age moderated the heritability and nonshared environment of infant dysregulation, shared and nonshared environmental influences on competence, and nonshared environmental influences on developmental maturity. Taken together, prenatal and obstetric conditions were important nonlinear influences on infant outcomes. An evolutionary perspective may provide a framework for these findings, such that the prenatal environment programs the fetus to be adaptive to current environmental contexts. Specifically, prenatal stress governs gene expression through epigenetic processes. Findings highlight the utility of a genetically informative design for elucidating the role of prenatal and obstetric conditions in the etiology of infant developmental outcomes.
Date Created
2011
Contributors
- McDonald, Kristy (Author)
- Lemery-Chalfant, Kathryn S (Thesis advisor)
- Fabricius, William (Committee member)
- Luecken, Linda (Committee member)
- Spinrad, Tracy (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
- Developmental Psychology
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- psychology
- Gene-Environment Interplay
- Infant Behavior
- Infants--Development
- Obstetrical Complications
- prenatal stress
- Twin Design
- Child Psychology
- Obstetrics
- Stress (Psychology)
- Infants--Development.
- Pregnancy--Psychological aspects.
- Pregnancy--Complications.
Resource Type
Extent
ix, 122 p. : ill. (some col.)
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.14469
Statement of Responsibility
by Kristy McDonald
Description Source
Viewed on Oct. 9, 2012
Level of coding
full
Note
thesis
Partial requirement for: Ph .D., Arizona State University, 2011
bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (p. 82-100)
Field of study: Psychology
System Created
- 2012-08-24 06:13:20
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:49:12
- 3 years ago
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