Prenatal psychological distress and neurodevelopmental trajectories in the first 3 years: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This systematic review aims to examine the association between maternal psychological distress (specifically perceived stress, clinical anxiety and depressive symptoms), measured exclusively during pregnancy, and child neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed within the first 3 years of life (0-36 months), including cognitive, language, socioemotional and behavioural development.

Design

The review was conducted in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024599742). It focused exclusively on studies assessing maternal distress during the prenatal period and its impact on cognitive, language, socioemotional and behavioural outcomes in infancy and toddlerhood.

Data sources

A comprehens

SUBMITTER: De Domenico C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12606506 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature