Sex Differences in Vulnerability to Prenatal Stress: a Review of the Recent Literature.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

To evaluate the degree to which recent studies provide evidence that the effects of prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) on child health outcomes vary depending on the child's biological sex. In this review, we used a broad definition of stress, including negative life events, psychological stress, and established stress biomarkers. We identified 50 peer-reviewed articles (published January 2015-December 2017) meeting the inclusion criteria.

Recent findings

Most articles (k = 35) found evidence of either sex-specific associations (significant in one sex but not the other) or significant PNMS^xstress interactions for at least one child health outcome. Evidence for sex-dependent effects was strongest in the group of studies evaluating child neural/nervou

SUBMITTER: Sutherland S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6329286 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature