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Maternal stress during pregnancy and early childhood development

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  • Berthelon, Matias
  • Kruger, Diana
  • Sanchez, Rafael
Abstract
We estimate the impact of prenatal stress on early childhood development outcomes known as “middle years” or intermediate outcomes, which has not been studied previously. Using a unique measure of actual maternal stress induced by a large earthquake, we find that relative to children that were not exposed, in utero maternal stress reduces children’s cognitive skills and socio-emotional problems by age 3, and that the effects are heterogeneous. The negative impacts on cognitive skills occur during the first trimester of pregnancy and are found among both low and high-income children, and boys and girls. The harmful effects on socio-emotional behaviors occur when stress is experienced in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Berthelon, Matias & Kruger, Diana & Sanchez, Rafael, 2021. "Maternal stress during pregnancy and early childhood development," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:43:y:2021:i:c:s1570677x2100071x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101047
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    2. Álvarez-Aranda, Rocío & Chirkova, Serafima & Romero, José Gabriel, 2020. "Growing in the womb: The effect of seismic activity on fetal growth," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    3. Cruzatti C., John & Rieger, Matthias, 2024. "Shaken, Not Stunted? Global Evidence on Natural Disasters, Child Growth and Recovery," IZA Discussion Papers 17372, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    In utero stress; Early childhood; Child development; Maternal stress; Maternal mental health; Earthquake; Chile;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other

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