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Marie Lanen
Head of parenting section (baby, pregnancy, family)
A study from the University of Bath in England shows that the brain development of babies whose mothers were victims of domestic violence during pregnancy is impaired compared to other infants.
While studies have analyzed the impact of maternal stress during pregnancy on infants, research by scientists at the University of Bath (England) has focused on the impact of domestic violence during this period. Thus, the researchers were able to conclude from their results that domestic violence suffered during pregnancy has a significant impact on the development of the brain of babies. Indeed, the cerebral development of infants exposed in utero to domestic violence would be altered. The very structure of the brain showed changes… This study also showed that domestic violence did not have the same impact depending on the sex of the baby.
Pregnant woman: the violence suffered responsible for psychological problems in the child?
For this study, the researchers performed brain MRI scans on 143 infants when they were about three weeks old. These babies were born to mothers who had been victims of domestic violence (physical/psychological/sexual) during pregnancy. The results observed by the scientists demonstrated that exposure to domestic violence during pregnancy altered the brains of babies at an age when “any changes observed are likely to have developed inside the womb”, specify the authors. Thus, “Early changes in brain structures may explain why children whose mothers experience high levels of stress during pregnancy are more likely to have psychological problems in childhood or later in life,” believe Researchers.
Domestic violence during pregnancy: a different impact depending on the gender of the baby
If domestic violence would have an impact on the brain development of the baby, it would alter the brain differently depending on the sex of the infant. Thus, girls would present a small amydala, the area of the brain involved in emotional and social development. As for boys, cerebral MRI would show a larger caudate nucleus. The latter plays a role in several functions: motor control, execution of movement, attentional processes, learning, memory and even motivation.
“Our findings are a call to action on the three ‘Rs’ of domestic violence awareness: Recognize, Respond and Refer. Preventing or acting early to help women escape domestic violence can be an effective way to support the healthy brain development in children” conclude the authors of the study published in the journal Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience.