Fetal heart rate variability and infant self-regulation: the impact of mother's prenatal depressive symptoms.

IF 1.6 4区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology Pub Date : 2025-06-01 Epub Date: 2023-09-19 DOI:10.1080/02646838.2023.2257730

Tiago Miguel Pinto, Cristina Nogueira-Silva, Bárbara Figueiredo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Foetal heart rate (FHR) variability is considered a marker of foetal neurobehavioral development associated with infant self-regulation and thus may be an early precursor of the adverse impact of mother's prenatal depressive symptoms on infant self-regulation.

Objective: This study analysed the mediator role of FHR variability in the association between mother's prenatal depressive symptoms and infant self-regulation at three months.

Methods: The sample comprised 86 first-born infants and their mothers. Mothers reported on depressive symptoms at the first trimester of pregnancy and on depressive symptoms and infant self-regulation at three months postpartum. FHR variability was recorded during routine cardiotocography at the third trimester of pregnancy. A mediation model was tested, adjusting for mother's postnatal depressive symptoms.

Results: Higher levels of mother's prenatal depressive symptoms were associated with both lower FHR variability and lower infant self-regulation at three months. FHR variability was associated with infant self-regulation and mediated the association between mother's prenatal depressive symptoms and infant self-regulation at three months.

Conclusion: Findings suggested FHR variability as an early precursor of infant self-regulation that underlies the association between mother's prenatal depressive symptoms and infant self-regulation. Infants of mothers with higher levels of prenatal depressive symptoms could be at risk of self-regulation problems, partially due to their lower FHR variability.

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胎儿心率变异性和婴儿自我调节：母亲产前抑郁症状的影响。

背景：胎儿心率（FHR）变异性被认为是与婴儿自我调节相关的胎儿神经行为发展的标志，因此可能是母亲产前抑郁症状对婴儿自我调节产生不利影响的早期前兆。目的：本研究分析FHR变异性在母亲产前抑郁症状与三个月婴儿自我调节之间的中介作用。方法：样本包括86名新生儿及其母亲。母亲们报告了妊娠早期的抑郁症状，以及产后三个月的抑郁症状和婴儿自我调节。FHR变异性记录在妊娠晚期的常规心脏分娩造影中。测试了一个中介模型，对母亲产后抑郁症状进行了调整。结果：母亲产前抑郁症状水平越高，三个月时FHR变异性越低，婴儿自我调节能力越低。FHR变异性与婴儿自我调节相关，并介导母亲的产前抑郁症状与婴儿三个月时的自我调节之间的关系。结论：研究结果表明FHR变异性是婴儿自我调节的早期前兆，也是母亲产前抑郁症状和婴儿自我调节之间联系的基础。产前抑郁症状水平较高的母亲的婴儿可能存在自我调节问题的风险，部分原因是其FHR变异性较低。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY-

CiteScore

6.80

自引率

8.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology reports and reviews outstanding research on psychological, behavioural, medical and social aspects of human reproduction, pregnancy and infancy. Medical topics focus on obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and psychiatry. The growing work in relevant aspects of medical communication and medical sociology are also covered. Relevant psychological work includes developmental psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, behavioural medicine, psychology of women and health psychology. Research into psychological aspects of midwifery, health visiting and nursing is central to the interests of the Journal. The Journal is of special value to those concerned with interdisciplinary issues. As a result, the Journal is of particular interest to those concerned with fundamental processes in behaviour and to issues of health promotion and service organization.