Preconception predictors of next generation early relational health: A living review of prospective cohort studies

Intergenerational studies suggest that the developmental foundations of children’s early relationalhealth are seeded well before conception. Here, we present studies that report on associationsbetween factors in the parental preconception life course (across childhood, adolescence, and youngadulthood), and indicators of the child’s early relational ecology (e.g., infant-to-parent attachment,parent-to-infant bonds). We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Embase databases for peer-reviewedarticles, published in English, that reported on prospectively assessed factors at any stage of aparent’s life course prior to conception, and associations with offspring relational health fromconception to end of age 3 years. No date restrictions were imposed. The search yielded 11,337articles of which 23 met inclusion criteria, reporting data from 15 separate cohorts. Child relationalhealth was assesses using both coded observations and parent reports. Most studies focused on themother-child relationship (65%). Most preconception predictors were within the family microsystem(70%) and measured during adolescence (70%). Few studies assessed other microsystems or broaderecological systems, with no studies investigating workplaces, online interactions, or cultural beliefsystems as predictors of next generation relational health. We conclude that longitudinal cohortsthat track individuals into parenthood can provide critical insights into the preconception origins ofearly relational health; however, the existing body of prospective studies is heterogeneous andreflects a nascent field of enquiry. We present five recommendations for future investment in publichealth approaches that promote early relational health.