Surkova K.L., Sergienko A.A., Zvereva N.V. Features of the course of induced pregnancy of mothers and subsequent neurocognitive development of their children aged 3 to 7 years
Karolina L. Surkova, Researcher, Department of Medical Psychology, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia; bld. 34, Kashirskoe hw., Moscow, Russia, 115522; ORCID: 0000-0001-7501-0535; www1-11@yandex.ru
Alexey A. Sergienko, PhD in Psychology, Leading Researcher, Department of Medical Psychology, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia; bld. 34, Kashirskoe hw., Moscow, Russia, 115522; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4511-2503; aumsan@gmail.com
Natalia V. Zvereva, PhD in Psychology, Leading Researcher, Department of Medical Psychology, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia; bld. 34, Kashirskoe hw., Moscow, Russia, 115522; ORCID: 0000-0003-3817-2169; zverevanv@mgppu.ru
Relevance. The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has been actively developing for over 40 years, the issue of the impact of the method on the health of artificially conceived children remains relevant.
Target. The aim of our study was to analyse the neurocognitive development of children aged 3–7 years conceived with the help of ART in comparison with the characteristics of the mother's pregnancy. An analysis of the course of pregnancy of mothers with artificial and natural insemination is given in comparison with the indicators of neurocognitive development of a child aged 3–7 years. The following characteristics of the pregnancy are analyzed: health of the mother and fetus; trimester toxicosis; risk of termination of pregnancy; the presence of viral infections in the mother and exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Research methods. questionnaires; collection of anamnestic data on the course of pregnancy of mothers and development of their children; neuropsychological diagnostics; methods of mathematical statistics. 115 children were examined (54 children were conceived using ART methods and 61 children from natural conception); the anamnestic data of their mothers' pregnancy were studied. As a result, it was established that complications arising during pregnancy affect the remote neurocognitive development of children, especially in the artificial conception group.
Results. Severe pregnancy of the mother increases the risk of dysontogenetic development in preschool children, especially dysfunction of the subcortical structures responsible for the energy component of mental activity. In children conceived with the help of assisted reproduction, the negative impact of a complicated pregnancy on neurocognitive development is more pronounced than in children of natural conception.
Conclusions. The course of pregnancy, especially when conceived with the help of ART methods, can have a remote effect on the neurocognitive development of children.
Key words: artificial insemination, children from induced pregnancy, children from IVF, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), child development
For citation: Surkova K.L., Sergienko A.A., Zvereva N.V. (2025). Features of the course of induced pregnancy of mothers and subsequent neurocognitive development of their children aged 3 to 7 years. New Psychological Research, No. 1. 169–188. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2025_05_01_07
Keywords: artificial insemination children from induced pregnancy children from IVF assisted reproductive technologies (ART) child development
Received: 08th april 2025
Published: 08th april 2025