Understanding the role of infant crying in the persistence of depressive symptoms from pregnancy to the postpartum period.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K13548
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Hiraoka Daiki 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 特命助教 (60894764)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 乳児の泣き / 縦断調査 / 周産期メンタルヘルス / 産後うつ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study examined the impact of prenatal stress, behavior, cognitive functions, and infant crying behavior on postpartum maternal mental health and the processing of infant cries. It demonstrated the mechanisms by which prenatal stress and infant crying behavior lead to fluctuations in postpartum maternal bonding and depressive symptoms. Additionally, it confirmed the negative effects of prenatal cannabis use on children's cognitive development and brain volume. Furthermore, the study elucidated the relationship between maternal executive functions and brain activity during cry processing and presented the current state and future challenges of perinatal caregiver research through bibliometric analysis.

Free Research Field

発達心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，産後うつの維持・変遷のメカニズムに関する新たな知見を提供し，妊娠中のストレスおよび乳児の泣き声が産後の母親のメンタルヘルスに与える影響を明らかにした。また，妊娠中の大麻使用が子どもの認知発達および脳容量に及ぼす長期的影響を示すことで，公共衛生政策への重要な示唆を提供した。さらに，実行機能と泣き声処理の脳活動の関連性を解明することで，乳児の泣き声処理の重要な心理・神経基盤の解明とともに，周産期に低下する認知能力に対する配慮・介入の必要性を示唆した。
本研究の成果は，周産期の親の抱える困難の理解を促進させ，子どもの健全な発達を支援するための重要な基礎資料となると期待される。