Mutual Influences on Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Infant Stress Physiology

Studies show evidence of bidirectional influences between maternal well-being and child physiological development. To better understand precursors and predictors of the biological stress response and maternal depression in the postpartum, this study examines cross-lagged associations between maternally reported depressive symptoms and infants’ salivary cortisol response to social and physical stressors.