Feelings Upon Learning of Pregnancy, Child Developmental Delays, and the Role of Social Support
Summary
Nationwide birth cohort study finds that negative feelings about pregnancy are associated with child developmental delays, while highlighting a potential role of social support
In a recent study, researchers from Japan analyzed data from over 73,000 mother–child pairs and found that a mother’s negative or indifferent feelings upon learning they are pregnant were associated with a higher likelihood of developmental delays at age three. The study also revealed social support substantially reduced this risk, highlighting the need for timely interventions.
- Image title： Feelings upon learning of pregnancy and postpartum social support are associated with developmental delay at 3 years
- Image caption： A large-scale study of more than 73,000 mother–child pairs in Japan reveals the developmental risks associated with negative or indifferent feelings upon learning of pregnancy, as well as the mediating role of postpartum social support.
- Credit：Professor Mitsue Nagamine, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan; Collaborative Researcher, University of Toyama, Japan
- License type：Original Content
- Usage restrictions：Cannot be used without permission.
Research Details
Reference
Title of original paper
The mediating effect of social support on the relationship between negative feelings about pregnancy and child developmental delays: A nationwide birth cohort – the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Journal
Journal of Health Psychology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053261460707
Additional information for EurekAlert
Latest Article Publication Date
28 June 2026
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
People
Conflicts of Interest Statement
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Azusa Matsuda
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