A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Prenatal Parental Psychosocial Determinants of Neonatal Brain Structure: A Latent Variable Approach in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort
Authors: Kovacs, Boglarka Zsofia; Neumann, Alexander; Pulli, Elmo P.; Kataja, Eeva-Leena; Hashempour, Niloofar; van Houtum, Lisanne A.E.M.; van Uum, Fin; Bijma, Hilmar H.; Merisaari, Harri; Scheinin, Noora M.; Karlsson, Hasse; Karlsson, Linnea; Tuulari, Jetro J.; van Haren, Neeltje E.M.; Nolvi, Saara
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
ISSN: 2451-9022
eISSN: 2451-9030
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2026.02.004
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2026.02.004
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/515802990
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
BACKGROUND: Maternal mental health during pregnancy has been linked to early neurodevelopment, but the unique contributions of maternal and paternal psychosocial risk and protective factors to neonatal brain structure remain unclear. This study examined associations between prenatal parental psychosocial factors and neonatal brain morphometry (intracranial and subcortical volumes) and white matter microstructure.
METHODS: Structural and diffusion MRI data were acquired at 2–5 weeks postnatal age in n=174 neonates (M gestational age=39.9 ± 1.2 weeks) from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort. Psychosocial data were collected via questionnaires from n=173 mothers and n=116 fathers during pregnancy. Latent risk and protective constructs were derived using exploratory factor analysis. Associations with neonatal brain metrics: intracranial volume, bilateral hippocampal/amygdala volumes, and white matter microstructure (fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity in key tracts) were tested using structural equation modeling, adjusted for covariates and FDR correction.
RESULTS: Four maternal (mental health and well-being, early relationships, pregnancy-related anxiety, attachment) and two paternal (mental health and well-being, social bonding) latent factors were identified. Greater maternal mental health and well-being was associated with larger neonatal intracranial volume. Greater paternal mental health and well-being was associated with lower fractional anisotropy in the hippocampal cingulum and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and higher mean diffusivity in the latter.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that prenatal parental psychosocial health is associated with subtle deviations in neonatal brain architecture. These results underscore the need for holistic research on parental mental health, paving the way for care models that integrate psychosocial well-being to promote better health outcomes across generations.
Funding information in the publication:
This work was supported by State Research Funding, TYKS (HM, NMS); the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation (NH); and an endowed professorship held by HB, financed by GGD GHOR Nederland, the Association of Regional Public Health Services, and Regional Medical Emergency Preparedness and Planning offices in the Netherlands. JJT was supported by the Juho Vainio Foundation, the Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Finnish State Grants for Clinical Research (ERVA), the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Alfred Kordelin Foundation, the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, and the Orion Research Foundation. EPP was supported by Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation, and Strategic Research Council (SRC) established within the Research Council of Finland (#352648 and subproject #352655). NEMvH, BZK, LAEMvH, and FvU were supported by the European Unions Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Program (FAMILY; Grant No. 101057529 [to NEMvH]). There was no involvement by the funding bodies at any stage of the study. FAMILY is a consortium that is funded by the European Union, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Research Executive Agency (REA), the SERI, or the UKRI. Neither the European Union nor the granting authorities can be held responsible for them.
The funding bodies had no role in the design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing of the manuscript. Parts of this work were presented in poster format at the Flux Congress 2024 and the FIT’NG Conference 2024, and will be presented orally at the Nordic Marcé Conference 2025.
