COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Restrictions: Factors That May Affect Perinatal Maternal Mental Health and Implications for Infant Development

Theano Kokkinaki; Eleftheria Hatzidaki

doi:10.3389/fped.2022.846627

Frontiers in Pediatrics (May 2022)

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Restrictions: Factors That May Affect Perinatal Maternal Mental Health and Implications for Infant Development

Theano Kokkinaki,
Eleftheria Hatzidaki

Affiliations

Theano Kokkinaki: Child Development and Education Unit, Laboratory of Applied Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece
Eleftheria Hatzidaki: Department of Neonatology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), School of Medicine, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.846627
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

Read online

This review aims to discuss the factors that may affect maternal mental health and infant development in COVID-19 pandemic condition. Toward this direction, the two objectives of this review are the following: (a) to discuss possible factors that may have affected negatively perinatal mental health through the pandemic-related restrictions; and (b) to present the implications of adversely affected maternal emotional wellbeing on infant development. We conclude that the pandemic may has affected maternal mental health with possible detrimental effects for the infants of the COVID-19 generation. We highlight the need for evidence-based interventions to be integrated within the health system for prenatal and postpartum care in an effort to promote maternal mental health and infant development.

Published in Frontiers in Pediatrics

ISSN: 2296-2360 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Pediatrics
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/pediatrics

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords