Effect of pregnancy related anxiety on executive function of preschool children and gender difference
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2021.09.020
- VernacularTitle:妊娠相关焦虑对学龄前儿童执行功能的影响及性别差异
- Author:
XIE Jingjing, WANG Xiaoxu, YAN Shuangqin, XU Yeqing, ZHU Peng, HAO Jiahu, TAO Fangbiao, HUANG Kun
1
Author Information
1. Departmetn of Maternal Child and Adolescent Health School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle/Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, Hefei(230032), China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Pregnancy;
Anxiety;
Mental health;
Regression analysis;
Child,preschool
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2021;42(9):1359-1363
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To understand the effect of pregnancyrelated anxiety on preschool childrens executive functions(EFs) and gender difference in order to optimize the early development environment of offspring life.
Methods:This study was based on the ChinaAnhui Birth Cohort Study. Pregnant women from Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in Maanshan, Anhui province between October 2008 and October 2010 were recruited. The general information of pregnant women and the pregnancyrelated anxiety were collected prospectively in the first trimester of pregnancy. A cohort of 3 556 children aged 3-5 were followed up and their basic characteristics were collected. Executive function of preschool children was assessed by Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive FunctionPreschool Version(BRIEF) (parent version).
Results:In boys, compared with the control group, pregnancyrelated anxiety in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with the risk of abnormality in working memory, planning/organization and GEC[OR(95%CI)=1.40(1.06-1.85), 1.64(1.06-2.54), 1.89(1.27-2.82)]. Anxiety in the both trimesters of pregnancy was associated with the risk of abnormality in inhibition, working memory, planning/organization and GEC[OR(95%CI)=2.60(1.45-4.67), 2.45(1.69-3.57), 2.23(1.28-3.88), 3.27(2.03-5.28)]. In girls, pregnancyrelated anxiety in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with the risk of abnormality in inhibition and working memory[OR(95%CI)=1.79(1.13-2.83), 1.45(1.07-1.98)]. Anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy was associated with the risk of abnormality in inhibition[OR(95%CI)=2.26(1.17-4.38)]. Anxiety in both trimesters of pregnancy was associated with the risk of abnormality in inhibition and working memory[OR(95%CI)=2.45(1.40-4.28), 2.02(1.35-3.01)].
Conclusion:Pregnancyrelated anxiety significantly affected the executive function of preschool children, and there was a significant doseresponse relationship. Pregnancyrelated anxiety primarily affects working memory, planning/organization and GEC function in boys, and the working memory, inhibition function in girls.