Stress Reactivity in Newborns
Assessing stress reactivity in newborns offers a valuable opportunity to study genetic influences at an early stage, before the myriad interactions with the postnatal environment start to occur. In addition, a rapidly developing line of research has uncovered links between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and the subsequent risk for psychopathology in adolescents. Our studies in this area focus on genetic moderators of the relation between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and reactivity to natural stressors in the first days of postnatal life. Still in preliminary stages, this study aims to longitudinally follow up the neonate cohort.