This review looked at how maternal psychological distress and hormone pathways during pregnancy might affect the development of children. Specifically, it looked at how the body manages glucocorticoids, which are hormones related to stress, and how these pathways might influence a child's future behavior and cognitive skills.
Researchers found that while there are links between maternal stress and certain hormone levels, the results are inconsistent. These differences often depend on when the exposure happened during pregnancy and the specific biological samples tested. Because most of the evidence is observational, it is not yet clear if there is a direct cause-and-effect link between a mother's stress and a child's later development.
For medical care, the review notes that synthetic corticosteroids are currently used and provide significant benefits for babies at risk of preterm birth. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the long-term effects of repeated corticosteroid use. Because the evidence is still developing, these findings are not yet used to change standard medical practices.
