Maternal Prenatal Distress and Offspring Neurodevelopment: Identifying Protective Factors in a sample of Black American Families Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Prenatal distress has been well documented as a risk factor for developmental deficits in infancy and childhood, leading to a plethora of problems including delays in executive functioning, delays in academic achievement, and delays in adaptive functioning. Black American children may be at an increased risk for experiencing detrimental outcomes given that Black American mothers experience high levels of distress. Importantly, protective factors such as prenatal Vitamin D levels and natural light exposure may disrupt this developmental risk process and may be most effective if targeted at multiple time points early in the child's life. This dissertation empirically evaluated the role of natural light exposure as well as prenatal Vitamin D in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in infancy and early childhood, particularly in the context of maternal prenatal distress. The first study explored the potential protective role that natural light exposure plays in the relationship between prenatal distress and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes. The second study examined how prenatal maternal levels of Vitamin D might mitigate the neurodevelopmental risks associated with prenatal stress during toddlerhood. Data for both studies were drawn from a sample of African American women recruited at prenatal care clinics and enrolled with their infants in ongoing longitudinal studies focused on maternal and children’s health and development. Study results suggest that natural light exposure has a protective effect on cognitive, language and motor functioning in infancy in the context of prenatal maternal distress. Although Vitamin D levels in pregnancy did not interact with prenatal distress to predict cognitive outcomes, Total Vitamin D levels and maternal prenatal distress independently predicted cognitive outcomes in 2 to 4 year old 4 children. Results are discussed in relation to clinical and policy interventions for Black American families.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents General Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………….8

Study 1: Let the Sunshine In: The Protective Role of Natural Light Exposure in the Relationship Between Prenatal Distress and Infant Neurodevelopmental Functioning Title…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………19 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...20 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………….21 Methods…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..26 Results…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….30 Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………………………….36

Study 2: Examining the Protective Role of Prenatal Maternal Vitamin D in the Relationship Between Prenatal Distress and Child Cognitive Functioning Title…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………41 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...42 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………….43 Methods…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..49 Results…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….53 Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………………………….55 General Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………………………..63 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………71

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Subfield / Discipline	Clinical Psychology
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Developmental
Keyword	vitamin d prenatal stress nutrition natural light
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Linda Craighead , Emory University Erin Ferranti , Emory University Anne Dunlop , Emory University Patricia Brennan, Emory University Elizabeth Kim , Emory University

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