B-30: Autonomic Regulation as a Moderator of Prenatal Stress Effects on Cognitive and Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood

Abstract

Objective: Psychological stress during pregnancy has been linked to adverse cognitive and socioemotional outcomes and disruptions in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning in offspring. Heart rate variability (HRV), particularly vagal tone, reflects parasympathetic regulatory capacity and may explain individual differences in responses to prenatal stress. This study examined whether vagal tone moderates the association between prenatal stress and neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 3. Method/Data Selection: Prenatal stress was derived from a composite of maternal self-report measures (Perceived Stress Scale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Stressful Life Events Questionnaire) collected during the second trimester and categorized into low, medium, and high groups. Vagal tone at age 3 indexed ANS regulation. Results/Data Synthesis: Cognitive and socioemotional outcomes were assessed using Bayley-III composite scores. Linear regression models tested main and interaction effects, adjusting for child sex, socioeconomic status (SES), maternal age, prenatal marijuana use, and Superstorm Sandy exposure. Results. Significant main effects of vagal tone (B = −54.28, p = .027) and prenatal stress (B = −25.01, p = .004) were observed for socioemotional outcomes. A significant interaction between prenatal stress and vagal tone (B = 26.82, SE = 12.27, p = .032) indicated that higher vagal tone was associated with improved socioemotional functioning under high stress, with an inverse pattern under low stress. No significant main or interaction effects were observed for cognitive outcomes (p = .128); however, SES (p = .011) and maternal age (p = .049) were significant predictors. Conclusions: Vagal tone moderated the association between prenatal stress and socioemotional, but not cognitive, outcomes. Higher vagal tone appeared protective of socioemotional functioning under high prenatal stress but was associated with lower functioning under low stress. These findings suggest vagal tone may help identify children at risk for negative socioemotional outcomes and inform early targeted interventions.