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Maternal depression and anxiety effects on the human fetus: Preliminary findings and clinical implications by John N.I. Dieter; Eugene K. Emory; Katrina C. Johnson; B. Denise Raynor is a Psychology article available to read on EtoBox.

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## Abstract Newborns of depressed and anxious mothers show biobehavioral abnormalities suggesting that maternal psychological distress has negative effects on the fetus. Two studies examined the fetuses of depressed and nondepressed mothers: (a) a cross‐sectional investigation of fetal activity during the second and third trimesters and (b) an examination of behavioral and heart rate response to vibratory stimulation in late‐gestation fetuses. Fetuses of depressed mothers were more active during the fifth, sixth, and seventh gestational months. Assessment of late‐term fetuses consisted of a baseline, trials of vibratory stimulation directed towards measuring habituation, and a poststimulation period. During baseline, the fetuses of depressed mothers exhibited a lower heart rate. During stimulation trials, they showed less total movement and appeared to habituate more often. Approximately 35% of the variance in fetal behavior was accounted for by the mothers' depression and anxiety symptoms. Maternal depression may be linked to greater fetal activity during the second and third trimesters and decreased behavioral responsivity during late gestation. The response of late‐term fetuses

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Author

John N.I. Dieter; Eugene K. Emory; Katrina C. Johnson; B. Denise Raynor

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Wiley (ISSN 0163-9641)

Published

2008

Language

EN

Field

Psychology (Social Sciences)