Perinatal Risk Factors Associated With Infant Socioemotional Development

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal associations between a robust array of prenatal risk factors and infant socioemotional development. This prospective cohort study recruited pregnant adult U.S. women during the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 1585). The majority were non-Hispanic White, partnered and college-educated. Online surveys assessed prenatal and postpartum risk, indicated by maternal anxiety, maternal depression, financial hardship, insufficient partner support, pregnancy- and postpartum-specific stress and pandemic-related stress. Infant socioemotional development was assessed at M = 11.0 months with the Baby Pediatric Symptom Checklist. In linear regression models controlling for postpartum risk and additional covariates, prenatal risk was uniquely associated with greater infant inflexibility and difficulty with routines, but not with irritability. These associations were moderated by postpartum risk. Cumulative prenatal risk is associated with some dimensions of infant socioemotional functioning above and beyond postpartum risk; postpartum factors may heighten associations between prenatal risk factors and specific aspects of infant socioemotional functioning.