SynthesisPsychosomatic medicine2024
Neonatal Hair Cortisol and Birth Outcomes: An Empirical Study and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Psychosomatic medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Fetal Cortisol Exposure and Offspring Socioemotional Development.Developmental psychobiology · 2026Article
- Evolved birth physiology meets modern birth practice: Sustained effects of planned cesarean delivery on child hair cortisol in Brazil.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025Article
- Experiences of discrimination during pregnancy predict altered neonatal hair cortisol at birth.Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivePrenatal stress physiology is often posited as a predictor of birth outcomes, including gestational age at birth and birthweight. However, research has predominantly relied on indicators in the maternal system, with few studies examining hormones of the fetal system. The current study focuses on fetal cortisol in the third trimester, as measured in neonatal hair, as a biological factor that might be associated with birth outcomes (gestational age at birth and birthweight). We report findings from two studies: a longitudinal cohort (Study 1), and a meta-analysis of the existing literature (Study 2). METHODSSTUDY: Hair was collected for cortisol analysis from 168 neonates (55.95% female) shortly after birth. Gestational age at birth and birthweight were abstracted from medical records. METHODSSTUDY: An exhaustive search of four databases was conducted, yielding 155 total studies for screening. Papers reporting neonatal hair cortisol (collection <2 weeks postpartum) and birth outcomes among human neonates were retained for analysis, including Study 1 results ( k = 9). RESULTSSTUDY: Higher neonatal hair cortisol was related to longer gestation ( r = 0.28, p < .001) and higher birthweight, r = 0.16, p = .040. Sex did not moderate either association. RESULTSSTUDY: Across the nine studies, higher neonatal hair cortisol predicted both longer gestation ( r = 0.35, p < .001, 95% confidence interval = 0.24-0.45) and higher birthweight ( r = 0.18, p = .001, 95% confidence interval = 0.07-0.28). Neonatal sex did not moderate these associations.
conclusionsFetal cortisol exposure in the third trimester plays a role in normative maturation of the fetus, and findings reveal that higher cortisol is associated with positive birth outcomes.
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