ABSTRACT
Background: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) represents an unprecedented threat for human health worldwide that may have profound stress effects. Pregnancy is a sensitive period for adverse parenting effects on infants’ development and epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation) may play a pivotal role. Here we present the study protocol of the MOM-COPE project. Methods: Mothers and infants will be enrolled in twelve neonatal units in Northern Italy, a dramatic hotspot for Covid-19 contagion in Europe. Maternal covid-related stress will be assessed with an ad-hoc questionnaire. At birth, newborns and mothers’ salivary samples will be obtained to estimate target genes’ methylation (BDNF, FKBP5, NR3C1, SLC6A4, and OXTR). Post-natal bonding and infants’ temperament will be assessed through maternal reports at 3, 6 and 12 months. Maternal sensitivity and infants’ emotional regulation will be assessed during remote videotaped mother-infant interaction at 12 months. Results: The study has obtained approval of the Ethics Committee and is going to start by May 15th. Hypotheses and anticipated results will be discussed according to the available behavioral epigenetic literature on parenting, pregnancy and large-scale disasters. Discussion: This multi-centric study will provide evidence about the effect of pandemic-related prenatal stress exposure on the health and well-being of mothers and infants from birth to 12 months of age. Moreover, the longitudinal nature of the study will allow to assess the relative role of epigenetic regulation of specific target genes in mediating the effect of this precocious adverse exposure on short- and long-term outcomes.