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BMC Psychiatry

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01-12-2021 | Anxiety | Research

Maternal Anxiety and Infants Birthweight and Length of Gestation. A sibling design

Authors: Mona Bekkhus, Yunsung Lee, Ragnhild Eek Brandlistuen, Sven Ove Samuelsen, Per Magnus

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

The overall aim of this study is to examine the effect of prenatal maternal anxiety on birthweight and gestational age, controlling for shared family confounding using a sibling comparison design.

Methods

The data on 77,970 mothers and their 91,165 children from the population-based Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study and data on 12,480 pairs of siblings were used in this study. The mothers filled out questionnaires for each unique pregnancy, at 17^th and 30^th week in pregnancy. Gestational age and birth weight was extracted from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). Associations between prenatal maternal anxiety (measured across the 17^th and 30^th weeks) and birth outcomes (birthweight and gestational age) were examined using linear regression with adjustment for shared-family confounding in a sibling comparison design.

Results

In the population level analysis the maternal anxiety score during pregnancy was inversely associated with new-born’s birthweight (Beta = -63.8 95% CI: -92.6, -35.0) and gestational age (Beta = -1.52, 95% CI: -2.15, -0.89) after adjustment for several covariates. The association of the maternal anxiety score with birthweight was no longer significant, but remained for maternal anxiety at 30^th week with gestational age (Beta = -1.11, 95% CI: -1.82, -0.4) after further adjusting for the shared-family confounding in the sibling comparison design.

Conclusion

No association was found for maternal prenatal anxiety with birth weight after multiple covariates and family environment were controlled. However, there was an association between prenatal maternal anxiety at 30^th week only with gestational age, suggesting a timing effect for maternal anxiety in third trimester.

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Title: Maternal Anxiety and Infants Birthweight and Length of Gestation. A sibling design
Authors: Mona Bekkhus
Yunsung Lee
Ragnhild Eek Brandlistuen
Sven Ove Samuelsen
Per Magnus
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Anxiety
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03620-5

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Maternal Anxiety and Infants Birthweight and Length of Gestation. A sibling design

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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