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Maternal experiences of trauma and hair cortisol in early childhood in a prospective cohort.
- Source :
-
Psychoneuroendocrinology [Psychoneuroendocrinology] 2018 Dec; Vol. 98, pp. 168-176. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 22. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background and Objective: Maternal trauma can have intergenerational consequences but little is known about whether maternal traumas affect key biological domains associated with mental health in their offspring. The objective of this study was to examine maternal lifetime history of traumatic events through mid-gestation in relation to offspring cortisol production in early childhood.<br />Methods: The sample was comprised of 660 children (49.9% Black, 44.4% White) from a longitudinal study of mother-offspring dyads in Shelby County, Tennessee, followed from mid-gestation to child age 4 years (enrolled 2006-2011). Maternal lifetime history of traumatic life events were assessed mid-gestation using the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire. Total cortisol output among offspring was measured using hair cortisol concentrations at ages 1 to 4 years.<br />Results: Associations of maternal trauma history with child hair cortisol varied by child's age. No association was observed at age 1 or 2. In adjusted regression models, at ages 3 and 4, offspring of mothers in the third (β = 0.99, P < .01), fourth (β=0.72, P < .05), and fifth (β=0.83, P < .01) quintiles of trauma exposure history had elevated (natural log) hair cortisol concentrations, relative to mothers in the lowest quintile (P-trend = 0.003). The associations were not attenuated after adjustment for theorized pathways, including premature birth, maternal postpartum depression, and maternal parenting stress.<br />Conclusions: Maternal lifetime trauma exposures are associated with offspring hair cortisol concentrations. Future research is needed to determine intermediary mechanisms and functional significance of elevated hair cortisol concentration in young children.<br /> (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Depression
Depression, Postpartum
Female
Hair chemistry
Humans
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System metabolism
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Middle Aged
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers
Parenting
Pituitary-Adrenal System metabolism
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects physiopathology
Prospective Studies
Wounds and Injuries psychology
Hydrocortisone analysis
Stress, Psychological metabolism
Wounds and Injuries metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-3360
- Volume :
- 98
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30170311
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.027