Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0005-9440-2194

Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Neuroscience

Reader 1

Tessa Solomon-Lane

Reader 2

Melissa Coleman

Rights Information

2025 Natalie Y AHn

Abstract

Maternal stress (MS) during pregnancy is a critical factor influencing fetal development, with implications for the long-term health of offspring. This thesis investigates the biological, neuroendocrine, psychological, and sociocultural mechanisms by which maternal stress exerts its effects on the gestational environment, in turn affecting fetal growth, brain development, and neurobehavioral trajectories. Drawing on data from human cohort studies, animal models, neuroimaging research, and sociocultural analyses, I developed two novel conceptual frameworks, the Allostatic Load Cascade Model and the Neuroimmune Placental Convergence Model, that can be used to explain how different types of stressors dysregulate maternal physiology and immune function, leading to placental dysfunction and increased fetal exposure to cortisol, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress. These gestational disruptions contribute to adverse fetal outcomes, including reduced birth weight, shortened gestational periods, impaired cortical maturation, and altered brain connectivity in regions associated with emotional regulation and executive function. Understanding these mechanisms creates a foundation for targeted intervention strategies discussed in the context of early detection of MS and prevention of negative fetal outcomes. These strategies include screening for biomarkers indicative of maladaptive levels of MS (i.e., maternal cortisol, C-reactive protein levels, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels), fetal neuroimaging in utero, pharmacological interventions for the pregnant individual such as SSRIs, and culturally sensitive psychosocial support that addresses both psychological and sociocultural stressors. Despite research progress in understanding how maternal stress influences fetal health, critical gaps remain. There is currently no consensus on which maternal stressors are the most predictive of fetal risk, how they should be measured, and how they may vary across populations. This lack of standardization limits their clinical utility in prenatal screening. Additionally, many studies do not integrate cultural, environmental, and social dimensions of MS, or follow offspring beyond early childhood. This literature review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary, longitudinal, and equity-centered approaches to maternal-fetal health and highlights opportunities to reduce the impact of MS and promote healthier development across generations through combining biological insight with sociocultural context and aligning mechanistic models with practical screening and support strategies.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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