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Abstract
Pregnancy can be a time of heightened anxiety, yet to date, little attention has been paid to the psychological consequences for babies born of anxious women, despite the potential for lifelong impact. Using prenatal and perinatal theory, this study explored the relationship between the offspring of an anxious pregnancy and the potential for the development of psychological issues later in life, predicted by infant affect regulation and soothability exhibited within the first few months after birth. Literature from neurobiology demonstrates that challenges with affect regulation and soothability are indicative of adaptations within the biological structures of the organism and are precursors to anxiety and other mental disorders. The Beck Anxiety Inventory was used to identify 106 anxious pregnant participants. Fifty-three participants were randomly allocated to listen to a music program for 300 minutes during the pregnancy. Birth records and scores on the Revised Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ-R) were recorded for the offspring. Data were analyzed via t test, chi-square, and MANOVA. This study demonstrated a significant improvement in the initial capacity for affect regulation in the offspring of women who utilized the music during the gestational period as compared to the control group. Discussion is included regarding the implications that a simple musical intervention used during the gestational period by prenatally anxious mothers may positively impact the enduring consequences stemming from this initial experience.
