Investigating links between prenatal distress exposure and children's brain and vocabulary development at age 2 years

Pregnancy can be a stressful time for many pregnant individuals and the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to even higher levels of stress and isolation, leading to elevated levels of anxiety and depression symptoms in pregnant people. Pregnancy is a sensitive period of growth for the baby as the brain develops and the first two years of life are critical periods of language and communication development. To understand the effects of maternal anxiety and depression on toddlers' language skills, it is necessary to study the underlying links to brain development. Therefore, this study aims to study how exposure to distress during pregnancy affects brain structure and vocabulary development in 2-year-old children. Anxiety and depression measures were gathered from pregnant individuals in a Canada-wide survey, and children's vocabulary was assessed by parents. A sub-group of toddlers underwent an MRI scan at the Alberta Children's Hospital, and brain structure metrics were measured. I will investigate whether there is a relationship between maternal anxiety and depression during pregnancy and children's brain development and vocabulary at age 2 years. Understanding how mental health complications during pregnancy affect children's development is important for managing health and development, and can inform increased support for pregnant individuals. This is especially important in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which was a period of increased stress and isolation. Language is an important measure of child development as early language skills can predict future outcomes such as reading ability and academic success. Investigating the effects of maternal distress on both brain and language development will provide a well-rounded view of child development.