Research

IDHP Research Summaries

Guide to Navigating this Research Archive

Here you will find research articles published by IDHP researchers that are related to our primary scientific foci: the interconnected mental health of children and their caregivers, the intergenerational impact of stressful experiences on mental and physical health, and interventions and other buffers that support family wellness. 

 

In the right sidebar, you can search this archive by research topic, as well as by research study (you can read about each study on the Current Projects page). Each archive entry has a simple summary, the full scientific abstract, and a link to the full article. Most of the articles in this research archive are available open access (i.e., you can access it without a subscription). If you are trying to access an article and aren't able to see the full version, please email us at [email protected], and we would be happy to assist. 

 

 

November 22, 2017
Biomarkers
Child mental & behavioral health
MAMAS/SEED Study
SEED Study
Stress during pregnancy

Effects of pre- and postnatal maternal stress on infant temperament and autonomic nervous system reactivity and regulation in a diverse, low-income population

This study found that higher levels of stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy were linked to lower levels of self-regulation and activity in their infants. Additionally, experiencing more stressful life events during pregnancy was linked to greater stress reactivity and weaker recovery in infants, but only if mothers reported high levels of perceived stress. These findings suggest that both objective and subjective measures of maternal stress can have a unique impact on infants' stress reactivity and regulation.