Social support may reduce developmental-delay risk tied to pregnancy feelings
· Medical Xpressedited by Swati Mestri, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
Swati Mestri
Scientific Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process
Andrew Zinin
Chief Editor
Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
trusted source
proofread
The GIST Add as preferred source
Pregnancy is often one of the biggest emotional and physical transitions in a woman's life. Alongside the well-known physical changes, many women also experience shifts in mood and mental health during pregnancy and after giving birth, with anxiety and depression being quite common.
Research over the past few decades has consistently shown that a mother's emotional well-being does not just affect her own health but may also delay her child's development. Because of this, health care systems are placing greater emphasis on providing timely support to mothers throughout pregnancy and early parenthood.
However, women respond in various ways upon learning that they are pregnant. While some feel immediate joy, others may feel confused, worried or even emotionally neutral. It has remained unclear whether these early emotional reactions are linked to a higher risk of developmental delays or whether social support could reduce those risks.
To answer these questions, a research team led by Dr. Mitsue Nagamine, a collaborative researcher from the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Japan, and professor at the Institute for Liberal Arts, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, analyzed data from one of Japan's largest birth cohort studies.
The study was co-authored by Professor Kenta Matsumura, collaborative researcher, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, and professor at Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Japan; along with Assistant Professor Akiko Tsuchida, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama; and Professor Emeritus Hidekuni Inadera, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama.
Their paper, published online in the Journal of Health Psychology on June 28, 2026, examined how mothers' feelings upon learning they were pregnant related to their children's development at age 3 and whether social support provided to mothers during the postpartum period could mitigate associated developmental-delay risks.
The team analyzed data from 73,518 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide birth cohort study following families across Japan. The women completed a questionnaire in their first trimester to report how they felt when they learned of their pregnancy, choosing from options ranging from "very happy" to "unexpected and confused," "upset," "no specific feelings" or "other feelings."
The researchers then examined the children's development at age 3 through a developmental screening questionnaire completed by the parents, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition. This questionnaire evaluated developmental skills such as communication, motor skills, problem-solving and social development. They also measured the impact of social support received by the mothers when their children were 2½ years old.
Compared with mothers who reported being "very happy," every other emotional response was associated with a higher likelihood of developmental delays at age 3. Surprisingly, the strongest association was found among mothers who reported having "no specific feelings" when they learned they were pregnant. Mothers reporting anything other than being very happy also tended to have experienced lower levels of social support.
Unintended pregnancies often affect a mother's mental health and behavior, often leading her to skip regular prenatal checkups and preventing her from receiving support or help.
Social support itself appeared to make a significant difference, as mothers with stronger support networks were less likely to have children with developmental delays. This protective effect was strongest among mothers who described their reaction when they learned they were pregnant as "other feelings."
"Our work shows women's feelings at the time they find out they are pregnant can serve as an early indicator for identifying those who may need support," says Nagamine. "Building on this, it may be possible to connect them to continuous and multifaceted social support through prenatal checkups and regular postnatal health examinations."
The findings also suggest a simple, low-cost opportunity. Since health care providers in Japan already ask women about their feelings when a pregnancy is confirmed, this question may help identify women who could benefit from additional or tailored support well before they face health concerns. The researchers stress that this support should not stop at birth and instead continue through early childhood.
Overall, the team hopes future research will explore exactly how social support translates into better health outcomes for children.
"Since feelings at the time of pregnancy confirmation are associated with the risk of child developmental delays, encouraging attendance at prenatal checkups is crucial, and these opportunities should be used to build a system of continuous support that extends throughout the postpartum period and early childhood," concludes Nagamine.
More information
Mitsue Nagamine et al, The mediating effect of social support on the relationship between negative feelings about pregnancy and child developmental delays: A nationwide birth cohort – the Japan Environment and Children's Study, Journal of Health Psychology (2026). DOI: 10.1177/13591053261460707
Key medical concepts
Clinical categories
PregnancyPediatricsObstetrics & gynecologyChildren's healthPsychology & Mental health Provided by University of Toyama Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
Citation: Social support may reduce developmental-delay risk tied to pregnancy feelings (2026, September 9) retrieved 10 September 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-social-developmental-delay-pregnancy.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.