Maternal stressors in a post-disaster population and its effects on infant temperament

Prenatal exposure to psychological and environmental stressors has been found to cause specific biochemical changes in animal model fetuses. Following Hurricane Katrina, many women were subjected to high levels of stress from traumatic events, change of housing, and social network disruption. The authors assessed the effects of these stressors on infant temperament. This prospective cohort study evaluated women giving birth to children in greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge, LA between February 2006 and December 2006 (n= 340). A questionnaire at delivery assessed the mother's experiences during the hurricane, social support, smoking, and income. A 6-8 week questionnaire assessed living conditions, psychological symptoms, post-partum depression, as well as the infant's temperament on levels of activity, approach, adaptability, intensity, and mood, using the Early Infant Temperament Questionnaire. The authors found that women living with more people after the hurricane compared to before the storm had infants that were more likely to score one standard deviation below the mean activity level (OR=0.35, 95%CI: 0.15, 0.80), while living conditions that improved after the storm were associated with infants one standard deviation above the mean activity level (OR=5.93 95%CI: 1.16, 30.23). Women who had poorer living conditions at the more recent evacuation location compared to housing before the storm had infants who were more likely to score one standard deviation lower on than the mean intensity level (OR=1.57 95%CI: 1.06, 2.35). Living condition stressors related to a catastrophic environmental disaster affect normal fetal development and infant temperament outcomes on activity and intensity levels.