How maternal depression affects infants' stress responses
Maternal Depression Calibrates Infants' Neuroendocrine, Autonomic, and Inflammatory Stress Responsiveness
This study looks at how a mother's depression can affect her baby's ability to handle stress, helping us understand when and how we can support both moms and their little ones for better emotional health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10401874 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal depression on how infants respond to stress. It aims to understand the physiological systems involved, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system, and how these systems may become dysregulated due to early exposure to maternal depression. By examining the relationship between maternal mental health and infant stress responses, the study seeks to identify critical periods for intervention to improve child emotional and behavioral outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include infants aged 0-11 years whose mothers are experiencing depression.
Not a fit: Patients who are not infants or whose mothers do not have depression may not receive benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and interventions for infants at risk of emotional and behavioral problems due to maternal depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated that maternal mental health significantly influences child development, suggesting that this approach has a foundation in established findings.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laurent, Heidemarie Kaiser — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Laurent, Heidemarie Kaiser
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.