Does Prenatal Maternal Distress Contribute to Sex Differences in Child Psychopathology?

Prenatal maternal psychological distress is an established risk factor for the development of psychopathology in offspring. The purpose of this review is to evaluate whether sex differences in fetal responses to maternal distress contribute to sex differences in subsequent psychopathology. Male and female fetuses respond differently to stress signals. We review recent evidence that demonstrates a sex-specific pattern of association between...