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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Microbiome and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #435912
Research Project: Early Life Factors and Microbiota Impact on Healthy Development

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Title: Association of prenatal depression and anxiety with cortical development and behavioral outcomes in 8-year-old children

Author
item NA, XIAOXU - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item HILL, TRENESHA - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item BELLANDO, JANE - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item GLASIER, CHARLES - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item ANDRES, ALINE - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item OU, XIAWEI - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)

Submitted to: Journal of Affective Disorders
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2026
Publication Date: 4/21/2026
Citation: Na, X., Hill, T.L., Bellando, J., Glasier, C.M., Andres, A., Ou, X. 2026. Association of prenatal depression and anxiety with cortical development and behavioral outcomes in 8-year-old children. Journal of Affective Disorders. 408(2026):Article 121825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121825.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2026.121825

Interpretive Summary: Mental health issues are common complications during pregnancy. In our previous study, anxiety and depression symptoms during pregnancy were found to be negatively associated with cortical brain development in newborn babies which are important for future brain function. This follow-up study aims to evaluate whether there are associations between mother's anxiety and depression symptoms during pregnancy and child's cortical brain development and neurobehavioral outcomes at age 8. Our results identified significant correlations between maternal anxiety and depression symptoms at different time points during pregnancy and child cortical features in several brain regions and several child emotional and behavioral measures, indicating potential impacts of mental health issues during pregnancy on long-term neurobehavioral outcomes in children.

Technical Abstract: Pregnant women often experience heightened depression and anxiety, which may potentially impact children's long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Utilizing a longitudinal cohort, we aimed to evaluate the potential long-term impacts of depression and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. Sixty-nine pregnant women and children dyads were included in this study, with maternal depression and anxiety symptoms assessed using Beck Depression Inventory-II and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at 12-, 24-, and 36-weeks of pregnancy. Analyses were conducted to examine the associations between prenatal depression and anxiety symptoms and children's cortical/subcortical features measured by the MRI as well as behavioral and emotional challenges using Behavior Assessment System for Children - Third Edition at age 8 years. Higher maternal depression symptoms during the second trimester correlated with reduced cortical surface area of the right parahippocampal gyrus; and higher maternal anxiety symptoms during the second trimester correlated with reduced gyrification of the left superior parietal gyrus. Additionally, maternal depression symptoms during the first trimester positively correlated with children's externalizing problem, hyperactivity, and somatization; maternal anxiety symptoms during the second trimester positively correlated with children's behavioral symptoms index, and withdrawal which was partially mediated by gyrification of the left superior parietal gyrus. Our findings suggest that exposure to maternal depression or anxiety may have potential long-lasting impacts on children's brain and neurodevelopment and/or neurobehavioral outcomes at age 8 years.