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COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Prenatal Distress and Infant Brain Development

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research on the effects of prenatal maternal distress during the COVID-19 pandemic on infant brain development has been conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Calgary. The study, which included 63 mother-infant pairs, found that mothers who experienced higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms during pregnancy had infants with stronger functional communication within the auditory brain network and more advanced social behaviors. The study also highlighted the need for continued monitoring of this infant cohort through early childhood to better understand the long-term effects of prenatal maternal distress on infant brain development.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that higher prenatal maternal distress was related to stronger functional connectivity in the infant auditory network (T = 2.5, p = 0.01, q = 0.04, df = 59).
  • The research concluded that the impact of exposure to maternal prenatal distress on infant brain networks may be more apparent in networks that develop early, such as the auditory network, compared to later-developing networks.
  • Mothers who experienced higher distress during pregnancy had infants with more advanced social behaviors, as measured by the ASQ-3 personal-social scores (T = 2.9, p = 0.006, q = 0.03, df = 48).
  • The study highlighted the importance of studying a range of brain regions beyond those involved in emotion and suggested the need for continued monitoring of this infant cohort through early childhood.
  • The research team worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants and actively promoted inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in their author group.

Statistics:

  • 63 mother-infant pairs were included in the study.
  • 2.5 (T-value) of the infant auditory network connectivity was found to be related to higher prenatal maternal distress.
  • 0.01 and 0.04 were the p-values and q-values, respectively, for the relationship between prenatal maternal distress and infant auditory network connectivity.
  • 2.9 (T-value) of the ASQ-3 personal-social scores was found to be related to higher prenatal maternal distress.
  • 0.006 and 0.03 were the p-values and q-values, respectively, for the relationship between prenatal maternal distress and ASQ-3 personal-social scores.

Sources:

  • "COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Prenatal Distress and Infant Functional Brain Development." JAACAP Open, vol. 3, no. 3, 2025, pp. 758-767, doi: 10.1016/j.jaacop.2024.09.008.
  • NewsRx. "New COVID-19 Research from University of Calgary Described (COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Prenatal Distress and Infant Functional Brain Development)." Medical Imaging Week, September 20, 2025, p. 568.

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