Background Growing evidence shows an association between in utero exposure to natural disasters and child behavioral problems, but we still know little about the development of specific psychopathology in preschool‐aged children. Methods Preschool children (n = 163, mean age = 3.19, 85.5% racial and ethnic minorities) and their parents (n = 151) were evaluated annually at ages 2–5 to assess the emergence of psychopathology using the Preschool Age Psychopathological Assessment (PAPA), a parent‐report structured diagnostic interview developed for preschool‐age children. Sixty‐six (40.5%) children were exposed to Sandy Storm (SS) in utero and 97 (59.5%) were not. Survival analysis evaluated patterns of onset and estimated cumulative risks of psychopathology among exposed and unexposed children, in total and by sex. Analyses were controlled for the severity of objective and subjective SS‐related stress, concurrent family stress, and demographic and psychosocial confounders, such as maternal age, race, SES, maternal substance use, and normative prenatal stress. Results Exposure to SS in utero was associated with a substantial increase in depressive disorders (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 16.9, p = .030), anxiety disorders (HR = 5.1, p < .0001), and attention‐deficit/disruptive behavioral disorders (HR = 3.4, p = .02). Diagnostic rates were elevated for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; HR = 8.5, p = .004), attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; HR = 5.5, p = .01), oppositional‐defiant disorder (ODD; HR = 3.8, p = .05), and separation‐anxiety disorder (SAD; HR = 3.5, p = .001). Males had distinctively elevated risks for attention‐deficit/disruptive behavioral disorders (HR = 7.8, p = .02), including ADHD, CD, and ODD, whereas females had elevated risks for anxiety disorders (HR = 10.0, p < .0001), phobia (HR = 2.8, p = .02) and depressive disorders (HR = 30.0, p = .03), including SAD, GAD, and dysthymia. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that in utero exposure to a major weather‐related disaster (SS) was associated with increased risk for psychopathology in children and provided evidence of distinct psychopathological outcomes as a function of sex. More attention is needed to understand specific parent, child, and environmental factors which account for this increased risk, and to develop mitigation strategies.

Objective: IQ among children with various neuro-developmental disabilities (NDDs) has been found to be significantly associated with parental stress. However, research on the effects of parental stress on a child’s cognitive function has insubstantial results, particularly among children with potential Autism trait. The current study examined whether parental stress is associated with cognitive scores among children with potential Autism trait relative to children without Autism trait. A subsample of 97 mothers and their 5-year-old children was extracted from the Stress in Pregnancy Study. Mothers completed a Parenting Stress Index (PSI), reporting magnitude of stress in the parent, and an Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) questionnaire, disclosing possible Autism trait in their child. Children were administered the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) to assess different domains of cognitive function. A two-by-two Factorial ANOVA was conducted to compare main effects of predictors (parental stress and child’s potential Autism trait) and its interaction on child’s cognitive performance (IQ). The results showed a significant interaction toward the Children Full Scale IQ, F(1, 93)= 11.46, p= .001, Verbal Comprehension, F(1, 93)= 6.54, p= .01, Visual Spatial, F(1, 93)= 4.64, p= .03, Fluid Reasoning, F(1, 93)= 5.81, p= .02, and Working Memory, F(1, 93)= 13.25, p&lt; .001. Notably, there was an increase in cognitive function among children with potential Autism trait and higher stress parent. These findings contrasted previous literature, suggesting higher parental stress may in fact favor child intellectual outcomes.

Objective: In-utero stress, maternal suicidal ideation, and COVID-19 lockdown have the potential to effect mothers and eventually their offspring. However, research on the effects of these factors on child fear has insubstantial results. Current study explored the effects of the interaction between in-utero environmental stress related to Superstorm Sandy and postnatal suicidal ideation on child fear level during the COVID-19 pandemic. 115 mother and their children, ages 5 to 10 were recruited for the study (M = 8.62). Participants completed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and COVID-19 related Child Fear Questionnaires. The EPDS was used to screen for maternal depressive disorders, includes a question on suicidal ideation. A two-by-two Factorial ANOVA was conducted to compare the main effects of in-utero hurricane Sandy exposure and postnatal suicidal ideation, and the interaction of the two on child fear during COVID-19 pandemic. Results showed a significant interaction of mothers’ prenatal hurricane exposure and postnatal suicidal ideation towards child fear during the pandemic, F (1, 111) = 3.77, p = .05. It also showed an elevated increase in child fear during pandemic among children with mothers that were exposed to Hurricane Sandy during pregnancy and presented postnatal suicidal ideation. These results highlighted the important of preventive strategies to mitigate postnatal distress and support families in the post-COVID-19 context.