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 PNMSxstress interactions for at least one child health outcome. Evidence for sex-dependent effects was strongest in the group of studies evaluating child neural/nervous system development and temperament as outcomes.
Summary
There is sufficient evidence of sex-dependent associations to recommend that researchers always consider the potential role of child sex in PNMS programming studies and report descriptive statistics for study outcomes stratified by child biological sex.
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References
Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
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K12 HS 022990: National Institutes of Health/Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (SMB); T32 MH 018921-25: National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health (SS).
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Sutherland, S., Brunwasser, S.M. Sex Differences in Vulnerability to Prenatal Stress: a Review of the Recent Literature. Curr Psychiatry Rep 20, 102 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0961-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0961-4