Abstract

Background Animal experiments suggest that maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy have long-term effects on the behaviour of the off spring. Aims To test the hypothesis that antenatal maternal anxiety predicts behavioural problems at age 4 years. Method Data were collected on multiple antenatal and postnatal assessments of maternal anxiety and depression, antenatal and obstetric risks, psychosocial risks and children's behavioural/emotional problems (n=7448). Results Antenatal maternal anxiety predicted behavioural/emotional problems in boys (OR=2.14,95% CI 1.48−3.10) and girls (OR=1.88,95% CI 1.3–2.69) after accounting for covariates. When covarying maternal anxiety up to 33 months postnatally, antenatal anxiety continued to predict total problems in boys (OR=1.56,95% CI 1.02–2.41) and girls (OR=1.5l, 95% CI 1.22–2.81). Conclusions There could be a direct effect of maternal mood on foetal brain development, which affects the behavioural development of the child.